Storyline: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said he had instructed officials to begin "immediate negotiations" for the release of hostages in Gaza and an end to the war, while also vowing to approve military plans to seize Gaza City. During a visit to a military base near the Palestinian enclave, Netanyahu said said that he had come to approve the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) plans to take control of Gaza City and to defeat Hamas. He added that he had given instructions to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all their hostages and an end to the war on terms acceptable to Israel. Netanyahu did not say how or where the negotiations would begin. Israel's Ynet news site, citing a senior official, reported that no delegation is expected to depart for Doha or Cairo at this stage. An Israeli official said on condition of anonymity that Netanyahu and his security cabinet were expected to convene on Thursday night to give final approval for the assault on the enclave's largest city, The announcement came a day after the military mobilized 60,000 reservists and said 20,000 more would be called up in the coming days. Earlier this week, Hamas agreed to a proposal put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators for a temporary truce and the release of hostages. Israel has not yet publicly issued an official response. Meanwhile, Netanyahu also said earlier this week that Israel would agree to end the offensive only if five conditions were met: Hamas's disarmament, the release of hostages, Gaza's demilitarization, Israeli security control over the enclave, and the appointment of a non-Israeli body to run daily life there which, he stressed, would not be Hamas or the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. Israeli forces continued bombardments of Gaza City overnight and carried out strikes elsewhere, killing at least 70 people and wounding 356 others, according to Gaza's health authorities. The death toll from Israeli strikes and shootings since Oct 7, 2023, has risen to 62,192, with 157,114 others wounded, the authorities said. Shotlist: FILE: Tel Aviv, Israel - June 2021: 1. National flag of Israel FILE: Israel - Nov 1, 2022: 2. Various of Israeli Parliament Knesset Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Aug 17, 2025: 3. Destroyed buildings, man standing on rubble Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Aug 11, 2025: 4. Debris; bullet holes on wall 5. Bloodstains on vehicle door 6. Various of mourners carrying bodies of Al Jazeera journalists killed in Israeli strike Gaza Strip - Aug 4, 2025: 7. Various of wounded people being sent to Al-Awda Hospital, patients being treated. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]