Israel
We will hopefully free all hostages in the next few days, says Netanyahu
Israeli PM gave a speech on Saturday night after Hamas accepted part of Trump’s peace deal on Friday
October 4, 2025 18:28
Israeli PM gave a speech on Saturday night after Hamas accepted part of Trump’s peace deal on Friday
October 4, 2025 18:28In a television address following Hamas’ acceptance of part of the Trump-brokered peace deal over Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu told the nation that all the remaining hostages would be hopefully returned soon.
Announcing that the captives could be released as soon as Succot – which begins on Monday evening, the day before the two-year anniversary of Hamas’ lethal invasion of southern Israel – Netanyahu added: “In the second stage, Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarised. This will be achieved either the easy way or the hard way – but it will be achieved.”
He said: “I hope that during Succot we’ll already be able to announce the return of all our hostages, with the IDF remaining deep inside the Gaza Strip.
"The US and Israel will limit the negotiations to just a few days. After that, Hamas will be dismantled – either militarily or politically.”
Referring to a phone conversation he had with Netanyahu on Friday, Trump told US news outlet Axios: “I said, ‘Bibi, this is your chance for victory.’ He was fine with it. He’s got to be fine with it. He has no choice. With me, you got to be fine.
“We had great receptivity for our plan – every country of the world in favour. Bibi is in favour. Hamas went a long way – they want to do it. Now we will need to close it.
“Bibi took it [military action in Gaza] very far and Israel lost a lot of support in the world. Now I am gonna get all that support back,” he continued.
Trump also praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as being “very helpful” in getting Hamas on board. “Erdogan helped a lot. He is a tough guy, but he is a friend of mine and he was great,” Trump told Axios.
A US official also told Axios that Trump informed the Turkish leader: “I did a lot for you and now I need you to do this.”
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