Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that efforts are underway to broker a new agreement aimed at securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Speaking during a White House meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, Netanyahu said, “We’re working now on another deal that we hope will succeed, and we’re committed to getting all the hostages out.”
Trump echoed Netanyahu’s remarks, stating, “We are trying very hard to get the hostages out. We’re looking at another ceasefire, we’ll see what happens.”
Netanyahu stressed the urgency of the situation, describing the hostages as “in agony” and reiterating his government’s determination to free them. He also referred to a previous deal, negotiated in part by Trump’s former regional envoy Steve Witkoff, which secured the release of 25 hostages.
The Israeli leader’s visit comes after the collapse of a six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which ended with Israel resuming airstrikes on Gaza on March 18. That truce saw the return of 33 Israeli hostages — eight of them deceased — in exchange for around 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Despite growing pressure from hostage families advocating for renewed negotiations, Netanyahu’s government continues to assert that increased military pressure remains the most effective way to compel Hamas to release those still in captivity.
According to the Israeli military, of the 251 people abducted during Hamas’s October 7 attack, 58 remain in Gaza, including 34 who are believed to be dead.
Speaking during a White House meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, Netanyahu said, “We’re working now on another deal that we hope will succeed, and we’re committed to getting all the hostages out.”
Trump echoed Netanyahu’s remarks, stating, “We are trying very hard to get the hostages out. We’re looking at another ceasefire, we’ll see what happens.”
Netanyahu stressed the urgency of the situation, describing the hostages as “in agony” and reiterating his government’s determination to free them. He also referred to a previous deal, negotiated in part by Trump’s former regional envoy Steve Witkoff, which secured the release of 25 hostages.
The Israeli leader’s visit comes after the collapse of a six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which ended with Israel resuming airstrikes on Gaza on March 18. That truce saw the return of 33 Israeli hostages — eight of them deceased — in exchange for around 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Despite growing pressure from hostage families advocating for renewed negotiations, Netanyahu’s government continues to assert that increased military pressure remains the most effective way to compel Hamas to release those still in captivity.
According to the Israeli military, of the 251 people abducted during Hamas’s October 7 attack, 58 remain in Gaza, including 34 who are believed to be dead.
