Al Jazeera reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he will soon give final approval for the seizure of Gaza City, even as he moves to resume negotiations with Hamas to secure the return of all remaining captives and bring an end to the nearly two-year conflict, but only under conditions acceptable to Israel.
Speaking to troops near Gaza on Thursday, Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to advancing plans to seize control of Gaza City, the crowded urban centre of the Palestinian territory, which would involve the forced displacement of nearly one million residents and widespread demolition of Palestinian homes.
"At the same time, I have issued instructions to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and an end to the war on terms acceptable to Israel," Netanyahu said, adding: "We are in the decision-making phase."
The wide-scale operation in Gaza City could start within days after Netanyahu grants final approval at a meeting with senior security officials later on Thursday.
Israeli forces have already stepped up attacks there, and thousands of Palestinians have left their homes as Israeli tanks edged closer to Gaza City over the last 10 days.
Earlier this week, Hamas said that it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal from mediators Qatar and Egypt, which, if accepted by Israel, could forestall the assault.
The proposal on the table calls for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living captives held in Gaza by Hamas and of 18 bodies. In turn, Israel would release about 200 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Once the temporary ceasefire begins, the proposal is for Hamas and Israel to begin negotiations on a permanent ceasefire that would include the return of the remaining captives.
Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera's senior political analyst, has likened Netanyahu's announcement about relaunching purported truce talks while the military escalates its assault on Gaza City to "negotiation under fire".
"There will be no stoppage of the fighting. There will be no breaks in the genocide. Hamas is going to have to make up its mind as Israel kills dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Palestinians moving forward [and] as it transfers a million Palestinians southward in Gaza," Bishara said.
"Israel is now dictating all the terms, and it's not listening to anyone, and it has a green light from Washington."
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