Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is ready to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza during a 60-day truce proposed by the US, but only if the Palestinian territory is demilitarised, AFP reports.

“At the beginning of this ceasefire, we will enter negotiations for a permanent end to the war,” he said in a video message from Washington on Thursday.

He said Israel’s “fundamental conditions” were that “Hamas lays down its weapons” and no longer has “governing or military capabilities”.

“If this can be achieved through negotiations, great. If it cannot be achieved through negotiations within 60 days, we will achieve it through other means, by using force, the force of our heroic army,” he said.

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