Jerusalem, Aug. 22 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 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.

"I came to approve the IDF's (Israel Defense Forces) plans to take control of Gaza City and to defeat Hamas," Netanyahu said on Thursday, during a visit to a military base near the Palestinian enclave.

"At the same time, I instructed to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and an end to the war on terms acceptable to Israel," he said.

Netanyahu did not say how or where the negotiations would begin, Xinhua news agency reported.

Israel's Ynet news site, citing...