Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has said it was not clear yet whether a hostage deal would materialise from ongoing talks, declining to discuss specifics but saying the fighter group Hamas needed to “come down to a reasonable situation”, Reuters reports.

Netanyahu, speaking in an interview with CBS News, added he was meeting with staff later today to review a dual military plan that included the evacuation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and an operation to destroy remaining Hamas battalions.

“If we have a deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen. If we don’t have a deal, we’ll do it anyway,” he told CBS.