Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem. AP
"I gave instructions the day before yesterday to advance negotiations, because I sense an opening... We will complete... both missions: the destruction of Hamas and the release of the captives," he said of talks with the Palestinian movement for the release of captives held in Gaza.
Speaking on US news channel Fox News, Netanyahu said moments later that US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff "made an offer to begin a 60-day ceasefire, a ceasefire in which half of those hostages would be released right away".
"And I said, yes, we're ready to go. There's been some development there. I hope we're able to do that," he added.
Scores of captives have been released by Hamas during two previous ceasefires in exchange for Palestinian prisoners since the war began in October 2023.
However, around 52 captives remain in Gaza, including 34 who the Israeli military says are dead, as it continues to carpet bomb the densely populated strip.
Hamas also holds the remains of an Israeli soldier killed during Israel’s 2014 war on the territory.
Israel's military on Sunday identified the captive whose body it retrieved from Gaza last week as Aviv Atzili.
Israel on Friday launched an aerial assault to destroy the Iran's defence capabilities and cripple its nuclear programme, hitting nuclear and military facilities, and killing top commanders, atomic scientists and dozens of civilians.
Iran's retaliatory missile fire killed at least 10 people in Israel overnight, according to authorities, pushing the death toll up to 13 since it began its military response on Friday, with 380 reported injured.
Israeli attacks on Iran killed at least 128 people on Friday and Saturday, including children, Iranian media reported, citing the health ministry, with hundreds more wounded.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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