Netanyahu says he hopes to announce hostage release in the 'coming days'

[Sanjeev]

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has stated that he intends to declare the release of hostages held in Gaza "in the coming days". "Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized – either the easy way or the hard way, but it will be achieved," he added in a televised statement.

The remarks followed a statement issued by Hamas on Friday in which it agreed to release the hostages under a US peace plan, but it made no mention of disarming and instead called for talks on other matters.

Following morning strikes on Gaza, Hamas declared on Saturday that Israel was still carrying out "massacres" and called for international pressure on the country. On Monday, the parties will begin indirect ceasefire negotiations in Egypt.