Image Source: Agencies

Aug 22, 2025: According to the Times of Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday (local time) that he would give his approval to the military's plan to take over Gaza City and instruct them to begin negotiations for the release of all hostages.

The statement was made in a pre-recorded message that was recorded outside the Gaza Division headquarters of the Israel Defense Force, where Netanyahu was meeting with defense officials to approve the proposal, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. "I came today to the Gaza Division in order to approve the plans that the IDF presented to me and to the defense minister for taking control of Gaza City and for defeating Hamas," Netanyahu said. He went on to say, "At the same time, I instructed to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all of our hostages and for the end of the war under conditions that are acceptable to Israel." Netanyahu made the announcement a few days after Hamas said it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal that would start talks to end the war and free the rest and release half of the hostages. Netanyahu has since stated that Israel will only agree to cease fighting as part of a comprehensive deal for all 50 remaining captives, despite the fact that the framework was previously approved by Jerusalem. It was unclear whether his Thursday comment marked any significant change in the state of talks.

Netanyahu's statement came several days after Hamas said it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal that would see half of the hostages released, Times of Israel reported.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office told Times of Israel that there were no immediate plans to dispatch an Israeli delegation, while a senior official later clarified that envoys would be sent once a venue for the talks was decided. It was also unclear whether Netanyahu's remarks were coordinated with those of Arab mediators who were currently participating in ceasefire discussions. The deal pushed by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, would commit the terror group to release 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 of the slain hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and release of hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners.

According to Times of Israel, it was suggested that during the ceasefire, talks would start about a permanent end to the war and the release of the remaining 22 hostages. Israel had earlier approved a similar framework but has yet to respond to the offer. The framework has not been rejected by Netanyahu, allowing for both a negotiated settlement and a military escalation.