Defeat of Hamas, release of all hostages -go hand in hand: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday ordered the resumption of immediate negotiations to free the remaining hostages as he moved toward approving plans for a military offensive aimed at conquering Gaza City.The announcement by Netanyahu came several days after Hamas said it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal that would see half of the hostages released and kick off talks to end the war and free the rest.

"I have come to approve the IDF's (military's) plans to take control of Gaza City and defeat Hamas," Netanyahu said in a video statement. He added, "At the same time, I have instructed to immediately begin negotiations for the release of all our hostages and the end of the war under conditions acceptable to Israel." The calls for renewed negotiations come just a day after the defence ministry approved a plan to call around 60,000 reservists to help take over Gaza City, the final stronghold of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.Israeli PM said, "These two matters -- defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages -- go hand in hand."

Hamas has long offered to free all hostages in exchange for an end to the war and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, but Netanyahu has argued that this exchange would leave Hamas in power with the ability to revive itself and once again present a threat to Israel. Critics say Hamas has been defeated militarily and Israel must do everything to rescue the living hostages before it is too late, while dealing with any further Hamas threats in the future.