Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered fresh negotiations for the release of all hostages while approving plans for a major assault on Gaza City, BBC reported.

He rejected a Hamas-backed ceasefire proposal that offered only a partial hostage release, insisting Israel will accept a deal only if all captives are freed and Hamas is disarmed.

The Israeli military has begun preparations for a ground offensive, warning Gaza City’s one million residents to evacuate south. Heavy bombardment continued on Thursday as aid groups vowed to stay and support those unable to flee.

The war, sparked by Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack, has killed about 1,200 people in Israel and over 62,000 in Gaza, according to BBC.