Netanyahu Says Israel Will Resume Talks to End War and Secure Hostage Release

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday that Israel will resume negotiations aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza and securing the release of hostages, but only under terms acceptable to Israel.
This was Netanyahu’s first response to a temporary ceasefire proposal backed by Egypt and Qatar, which Hamas agreed to earlier in the week. An Israeli official confirmed that negotiators will be sent once a location is finalised.
While addressing Israeli troops near the Gaza border, Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to Israel’s military objectives, including defeating Hamas and taking control of Gaza City. The city remains a densely populated centre within the Gaza Strip and has seen increased military activity, with thousands of Palestinians reportedly fleeing over the past ten days.

“At the same time I have issued instructions to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and an end to the war on terms acceptable to Israel,” Netanyahu said. He added: “We are in the decision-making phase.”

Earlier this month, the Israeli security cabinet, chaired by Netanyahu, approved plans to take Gaza City despite calls from key international allies urging restraint.
Israel maintains that any agreement must include the release of all remaining hostages. Approximately 50 hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks are still believed to be held in Gaza, with Israeli authorities estimating that about 20 may still be alive.
The current ceasefire proposal includes a 60-day pause in fighting, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and 18 bodies. In return, Israel would release roughly 200 long-term Palestinian prisoners. The proposal also outlines that, following the temporary truce, both sides would begin negotiations for a more permanent ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages.
Protests and Civilian Movement in Gaza
On Thursday, a protest took place in Gaza City, where hundreds of demonstrators marched carrying banners with messages including “Save Gaza, enough” and “Gaza is dying by the killing, hunger and oppression.” The protest was organized by several local unions.
“This is for a clear message: words are finished, and the time has come for action to stop the military operations, to stop the genocide against our people and to stop the massacres taking place daily,” said Palestinian journalist Tawfik Abu Jarad during the demonstration.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 70 people were killed in Israeli strikes within the previous 24 hours, including eight in a house located in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City. The Fatah movement reported that one of its leaders, a former militant, was among those killed, along with seven family members. The Israeli military has not issued a comment on the incident.
Military Preparations Continue
While there are signs that a ceasefire is being considered, Israel’s military preparations are ongoing. On Wednesday, the Israeli army called up 60,000 reservists, suggesting that plans to move forward with an operation in Gaza City are still in place. Such a mobilisation is expected to take time.
Netanyahu continues to face pressure from far-right members of his coalition who are opposed to any temporary truce and advocate for continuing the war, with some supporting permanent territorial control.
Civilians in Gaza City continue to seek refuge in other parts of the enclave. “We are facing a bitter, bitter situation, to die at home or leave and die somewhere else. As long as this war continues, survival is uncertain,” said Rabah Abu Elias, 67, a father of seven.“In the news, they speak about a possible truce, on the ground, we only hear explosions and see deaths. To leave Gaza City or not isn’t an easy decision to make,” he said.
On Thursday, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted on social media that the military had begun issuing initial warnings to medical and international organisations in northern Gaza, advising that residents should begin preparing to move south.
Adraee included a recording that he said featured an Israeli officer informing a Gaza health ministry official that hospitals in the south should be prepared to receive patients evacuated from the north.
A Gaza health ministry official confirmed the call took place. The ministry rejected the request, arguing that relocating medical resources would overwhelm already strained facilities and endanger more than a million people. The ministry also called on international organisations to intervene.
The same ministry reported two additional deaths due to starvation and malnutrition, bringing the total to 271 since the start of the war, including 112 children. Israel disputes the figures provided by the Gaza health authorities.