New Delhi, Aug. 22 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, August 21, that he visited the Gaza Division to approve the Israeli Defence Force's plans to seize control of Gaza City and defeat Hamas. He added that he had also instructed officials to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all hostages and to work toward ending the war under terms acceptable to Israel.

"I came today to the Gaza Division in order to approve the plans that the IDF presented to me and to the defense minister for taking control of Gaza City and for defeating Hamas," Netanyahu said. "At the same time, I instructed to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and for ending the war under conditions acceptable t...