Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel would begin immediate talks to free all hostages held in Gaza and end the nearly two-year war on terms acceptable to Israel, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
In front of soldiers serving in Gaza, Netanyahu said he was meeting with commanders to approve plans to capture Gaza City and defeat "Hamas".
"At the same time, I have given instructions to begin immediate talks to release all our hostages and end the war on terms acceptable to Israel," he said, adding: "We are in the decision-making phase."
The Israeli The army continued to press on with Gaza City today.
The military mobilized 60,000 reservists on Wednesday, a sign that the government was pressing ahead with its plan despite international criticism.
The mobilization of tens of thousands of reservists is likely to take weeks, giving mediators time to try to bridge differences over a new proposal for a temporary ceasefire, which Hamas has accepted but to which the Israeli government has yet to formally respond.
The proposal calls for a 60-day truce and the release of 10 live hostages held in Gaza by Hamas militants and 18 bodies. In exchange, Israel will release about 200 long-term Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The Israeli government has said that all 50 remaining hostages held by "Hamas" in Gaza must be released immediately.