Netanyahu Approves Military Plan for Gaza City, Calls for Hostage Talks Amid Ceasefire Uncertainty

In a decisive move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed the IDF’s strategy to seize Gaza City while urging negotiations for the release of all hostages, signaling both military escalation and a fragile opening for diplomacy.

Tel Aviv [Israel], August 22 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday announced that he has approved the military’s plan to take control of Gaza City, even as he simultaneously instructed officials to pursue negotiations for the release of hostages held by Hamas.

The announcement was delivered through a pre-recorded message filmed outside the Israel Defense Force’s Gaza Division headquarters, where Netanyahu met with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other senior security officials.

“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. “At the same time, I instructed to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and for ending the war under conditions acceptable to Israel.”

His remarks came just days after Hamas claimed it had accepted a ceasefire framework that included the release of half the hostages in its custody. While Jerusalem had initially shown support for the outline, Netanyahu has since reiterated that Israel would only halt military operations if all 50 remaining captives were freed under a comprehensive deal. It remains unclear if Thursday’s statement marks a shift in Israel’s negotiating stance.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office clarified to Times of Israel that there are no immediate plans to dispatch an Israeli delegation, though a senior official later noted that envoys would be sent once a neutral venue for talks is finalized. The statement also left unanswered whether Netanyahu’s position was aligned with Arab mediators currently engaged in ceasefire efforts.

The proposal currently on the table, driven by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, suggests Hamas would release 10 living hostages along with the remains of 18 slain captives in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners. During this pause, negotiations would continue toward a permanent resolution and the release of the remaining 22 hostages.

Israel had previously agreed to a similar framework but has not provided a formal response to this latest version. Netanyahu has neither rejected nor accepted the deal, leaving open the possibility of both a negotiated breakthrough and a dangerous escalation on the battlefield.

For now, the situation remains deeply fragile — with the Israeli military preparing for a possible full takeover of Gaza City, and the diplomatic front struggling to find common ground for peace.