Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he hopes a deal can be completed in a few days to release more Israeli hostages held by Hamas. He made the comments during an interview on the Newsmax show "The Record with Greta Van Susteren" that aired on Thursday, the last day of the prime minister's visit in Washington.
He also told Newsmax that he hopes to get 10 of the hostages who are still alive from the Palestinian enclave in an upcoming deal.
"It's been hell," for the hostages in Gaza, Netanyahu told Newsmax. "They're monsters. I mean, what they do to them and the stories we get are horrible."
"We now have a deal that supposedly will get us half of the living and half of the dead out, and so we'll have 10 living left and about 12 deceased hostages," the source quoted him as saying.
Also during the interview, the prime minister mentioned that there are Palestinians who are finally rising up against Hamas. "We see something that never happened before. Palestinians in Gaza are fighting Hamas. Palestinians in Gaza are defying Hamas."
PM to hostages’ families: We’ll negotiate for permanent end to war from first day of ceasefire
Also on Thursday, a senior Israeli official said that talks between Israel and Hamas are advancing.
There were expectations that the visit, in which Netanyahu met twice with US President Donald Trump, would result in a ceasefire being announced and the release of some hostages who have been held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday he was hopeful of a deal.
“I think we’re closer, and I think perhaps we’re closer than we’ve been in quite a while,” Rubio told reporters at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia.
New maps that Israel submitted to the hostage deal mediators in Doha were presented to Hamas Wednesday night, a source familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post Thursday.
The maps indicate increased flexibility regarding the Israeli deployment of troops during the 60-day ceasefire from the Morag corridor southward in Gaza.
“We hope that with a few adjustments, Hamas will approve them,” the source said.
Israel cannot achieve deal to release all hostages at once, Netanyahu says
On Wednesday, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, met with families of hostages. The Prime Minister’s Office stressed that Netanyahu told families that during his meetings with Trump, the issue of the hostages held in Gaza was raised extensively.
He told the families that Israel cannot achieve a comprehensive deal to release all Gaza hostages at once. The prime minister can be heard saying that “I will make sure that everyone, until the last hostage, will be released” in a leaked recording shared by N12. “We can’t make a comprehensive deal, but while the first eight living hostages are released, and until the last two living hostages are freed, we will work to end the war.
In a detailed statement released Thursday, Netanyahu said that he told the families that negotiations for a permanent end to the war in Gaza would begin on the first day of the 60-day ceasefire.
“At the beginning of this ceasefire, we would enter negotiations for a permanent end to the war—a permanent ceasefire. In order to achieve this, it must be done under the minimum conditions we’ve set: Hamas lays down its weapons, Gaza is demilitarized, and Hamas no longer has any governing or military capabilities. These are our fundamental conditions,” said Netanyahu.
“If this can be achieved through negotiations, so much the better. If it cannot be achieved through negotiations within 60 days, we will achieve it by other means—through the use of force. I think we have demonstrated determination, strength, and commitment to achieving all our goals.
“I hear the questions: Who will decide the order of the released hostages? First, let’s ensure there is a release. But until now, I say this clearly, we are dealing with a cruel terrorist organization,” said Netanyahu, implying that Hamas would be deciding which hostages would be on the list to be released.
“Of course, we would like to rescue everyone, and to us, they are all humanitarian cases. I want to rescue everyone at once. Here we are dealing with two stages, but the choice is not always in our hands. We will do everything to maximize this release in the best possible way. Not everything is in our hands,” said Netanyahu.
Hamas then issued a response to Netanyahu's statement, accusing him of sabotaging an agreement, and claimed that "In the past, we proposed a deal to release all the hostages in one phase in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, free flow of aid, and a complete withdrawal of the IDF - but Netanyahu rejected the proposal at the time, and now continues to evade and place obstacles in front of a deal," Army Radio quoted the terrorist organization as saying.
The families of hostages give a clear message: 'Don’t leave anyone behind'
Families of hostages called for a complete deal that would see the return of all remaining 50 hostages in a rally at Washington, DC on Monday.
“We are here to remind President Trump and PM Netanyahu that there are 50 hostages to be released. We cannot accept a deal for a partial release”, says Ilan Dalal, father of Guy Gilboa-Dalal.
He also added: “A partial deal would mean that some of the hostages will stay in the tunnels for more time, and this would be a death sentence. Please make a deal that will bring all the hostages home.”
Politicians for and against a hostage deal pressured Netanyahu on Thursday in an attempt to influence talks in Washington and Doha.
Far-right National Security Minister MK Itamar Ben-Gvir pressured the prime minister not to go through with what he claimed was a “reckless” deal.
“The more reckless deals are negotiated, the greater the motivation for Hamas terrorists to carry out additional kidnappings — and last night, that cost us the life of an IDF soldier who was killed during a kidnapping attempt,” Ben-Gvir said in a statement, referring to the killing and attempted kidnapping of soldier Avraham Azulay on Wednesday.
“Prime Minister, enough with negotiating with a murderous terrorist organization and seeking a deal that will revive and strengthen it. The lives of our soldiers and the residents of the South are more important than any normalization or economic agreements. Give the order to crush Hamas completely. We have no surplus fighters to lose in reckless deals!” Ben-Gvir concluded.
He later clarified, “Contrary to the fake news, I did not blame the Prime Minister for the attempt to kidnap our soldiers. The Prime Minister works tirelessly for Israel’s security, but regarding the emerging deal, I voiced sharp criticism. My words were clear and simple: when negotiating with Hamas for deals that release terrorists and withdraw our forces, it whets their appetite for further kidnappings. It is indeed harsh criticism—but by no means an ugly blood libel or distortion of my words.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar countered in a post on X/Twitter, “[I] Strengthen the Prime Minister, who is on an important diplomatic mission in Washington. The Prime Minister must ignore political pressures and threats in the effort to achieve a framework for the release of hostages—one that reflects the will of the majority in the government and the public, and aligns with the national interest.”
Blue and White leader MK Benny Gantz said in a video statement, “Prime Minister, don’t return until there is a framework for the return of all the hostages. Stay and keep up the pressure in Washington, fly to Doha—this opportunity must not be missed. You have the support of the people, and you’ll have political backing as well. As I said—bold and important moves will not be hindered by petty politics,” Gantz said.