By Jerry Williams
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized a new phase in Israel’s war on Gaza, instructing the military to proceed with a full-scale assault on Gaza City while ordering fresh negotiations for the release of all remaining hostages — but only on terms he deems “acceptable to Israel.”
In a video statement late Thursday, delivered from the Gaza Division headquarters, Netanyahu announced his cabinet had signed off on military plans to seize Gaza City, calling the operation a necessary step in both defeating Hamas and securing the return of hostages.
“These two matters — defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages — go hand in hand,” Netanyahu declared.
The announcement follows Hamas’ agreement earlier this week to a Qatar- and Egypt-brokered 60-day ceasefire deal, which would involve the phased release of hostages. However, Netanyahu has dismissed the proposal, insisting on a complete release of all captives in a single deal.
The Israeli leader reiterated his broader conditions for ending the war: the full disarmament of Hamas, demilitarization of Gaza, Israeli control over its perimeter, and governance by entities neither affiliated with Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.
Israeli officials estimate that only 20 of the roughly 50 remaining hostages are still alive after nearly two years of fighting.
As Israel moves forward with its offensive, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has warned international organizations and medical teams to prepare for the evacuation of Gaza City’s estimated one million residents. Bombardments intensified on Thursday in the city’s eastern districts.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry rejected the evacuation order, warning it could further collapse the territory’s fragile healthcare infrastructure. UN agencies and humanitarian groups have vowed to remain in place to support those unable or unwilling to flee.
The escalation comes after indirect ceasefire talks broke down last month. Israel’s war in Gaza began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which left around 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage.
Since then, at least 62,192 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry — figures cited by the UN as the most reliable available.
