Netanyahu says Israel to begin Gaza ceasefire negotiations to end war, release captives
Israel’s Government Press Office has released a video in which the Israeli prime minister says that he had directed the immediate initiation of negotiations for the release of all captives in Gaza and the conclusion of the war there on terms acceptable to Israel.
He also said that he had visited the Gaza Division – which is part of the Israeli military – to approve the plans to seize Gaza City and defeat Hamas.
Israel has not sent a delegation to Cairo, Doha: Report
Following Netanyahu’s statement that he had instructed “negotiations” for a ceasefire deal to begin, the Times of Israel is now reporting that his office told the paper that there are no plans “at this stage” to send an Israeli delegation to Qatar or Egypt for talks.
In the Israeli prime minister’s video message, Netanyahu did not provide any details as to who he had instructed and did not indicate whether he would accept the proposal that Hamas has accepted.
There is still no word from Doha or Cairo after Netanyahu’s comments
The Israeli prime minister has released a video statement saying that he has now approved the Israeli army’s plans to conquer and occupy Gaza City.
But in the same breath, he said that he also ordered what he’s calling the immediate negotiations for a ceasefire deal to release the Israeli captives and for an end to the war, but only if the conditions please Israel.
There’s still no word at this time of any sort of negotiating team heading to either the Qatari capital, Doha, or the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
But it’s worth mentioning that last night, Netanyahu released another statement saying that he wanted a shorter timeline for taking over this northern part of Gaza.
The Israeli military doesn’t exactly have a timeline of when they’re going to go in, but they have said previously is that they are operating what they say is great strength and force in and around Gaza City, and that it’s only a matter of time before they go in, forcibly displacing more than a million people in the process.
No reaction from the White House to Netanyahu’s ceasefire remarks
There has also been no public indication whatsoever of any pressure being brought to bear on the Netanyahu administration by the Trump White House – in fact, very much the opposite.
Netanyahu was asked himself a week or so ago by a US media [outlet] as to whether… Trump was putting pressure on him. He didn’t answer that question directly, but he did point out that … the president has indicated to him that Israel must do what it wants to do.
That is the position of Netanyahu, and that is very likely the position of the White House at this particular point.
There has been no movement from the White House in terms of sending negotiators to any ceasefire meetings. So, at this particular stage, no reaction verbally from the White House and no indication of any preparations being made for any ceasefire negotiations in the days ahead.
