Key Points
- Israel to initiate talks “immediately” for release of all Gaza hostages; any truce contingent on terms acceptable to Israel.
- Netanyahu approves military plans to seize Gaza City and “completely defeat Hamas,” declaring a phase of “decisive victory.”
- About 60,000 reservists mobilized as operations intensify; international criticism grows over civilian impact.
- Israeli cabinet stance: ceasefire only if all hostages are released together and Israel’s conditions are met; families push back.
- Hamas proposal reportedly seeks a 60-day ceasefire, exchange of around 200 Palestinian prisoners for 10 live hostages and 18 bodies; Israel yet to issue an official acceptance.
Jerusalem: Addressing troops at the Southern Command Headquarters of the Gaza Division, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will start talks immediately to secure the release of all hostages while pursuing a military strategy aimed at capturing Gaza City and defeating Hamas. He framed the campaign as entering a “decisive victory” phase and emphasized that any steps toward ending the war will proceed only on terms favorable to Israel. According to Netanyahu, Israel is seeking to achieve both goals the dismantling of Hamas and the return of hostages simultaneously.
Military Posture: Gaza City at the Center
Netanyahu said he has greenlit operational plans after consultations with the Defense Minister and senior IDF leadership. The stated objective: enable the army to take control of Gaza City and “completely defeat Hamas.” The IDF has escalated operations and mobilized approximately 60,000 reservists for the campaign, underscoring the scope and intensity of the current phase. While Israel hails the mobilization as a mission in the national interest, international criticism has mounted over humanitarian risks, civilian casualties, and urban combat in densely populated areas.
Ceasefire Calculus: Hostages First, Israeli Conditions Central
- Government stance: Israel’s cabinet position earlier this month held that any ceasefire is contingent on the release of all hostages, together, and acceptance of Israel’s conditions.
- Families’ dissent: Relatives of hostages oppose the all-or-nothing approach, arguing it has not yielded results and could endanger captives amid expanding military operations. They note there has been no hostage release since the last deal in March.
- Hamas proposal: Hamas has reportedly accepted a framework for a 60-day ceasefire involving the release of around 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 10 live hostages and 18 bodies. Israel has not issued an official acceptance, maintaining that a ceasefire is contingent on the full release of all captives at once.
Diplomatic and Domestic Crosscurrents
The push for immediate talks coincides with intensified battlefield moves, reflecting Israel’s dual-track approach negotiating under fire while seeking to degrade Hamas militarily. Domestically, pressure from hostage families and segments of civil society continues to test the government’s policy of conditioning any truce on a comprehensive, single-phase hostage release. Internationally, calls for restraint and humanitarian access persist as the conflict’s toll grows and negotiations remain fragile.
What to Watch Next
- Specifics of the “immediate talks”: who mediates, sequencing of releases, and verification mechanisms.
- Israel’s formal response to the reported 60-day ceasefire/prisoner exchange proposal.
- Operational tempo in Gaza City and any shifts tied to negotiation milestones.
- Public pressure from hostage families and the potential for incremental deals if a full release remains elusive.
- International diplomatic engagement, including regional mediators and major powers, on ceasefire parameters and post-conflict arrangements.
Quick Background
- Hostages: Israel seeks the return of all captives held in Gaza. Families argue for flexible, phased exchanges if comprehensive releases stall.
- Military objective: Israel’s leadership reiterates the goal of dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capacity, with Gaza City viewed as a critical operational theater.
- Negotiation dynamics: Previous deals have been limited and contested; the latest reported Hamas offer suggests a time-bound truce with partial exchanges, which Israel has not formally accepted.
