https://arab.news/cmf8e
- The recent truce had allowed the return of 33 Israeli hostages, eight of whom were dead, in exchange for the release of some 1,800 Palestinians held in Israeli jails
WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday during a White House appearance with President Donald Trump that new negotiations were in the works aimed at getting more hostages released from Hamas captivity in Gaza.
鈥淲e鈥檙e working now on another deal that we hope will succeed, and we鈥檙e committed to getting all the hostages out,鈥� Netanyahu told reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump for his part said: 鈥淲e are trying very hard to get the hostages out. We鈥檙e looking at another ceasefire, we鈥檒l see what happens.鈥�
Netanyahu added that 鈥渢he hostages are in agony, and we want to get them all out.鈥�
The Israeli leader, seated next to Trump, highlighted an earlier hostage release agreement negotiated in part by Trump鈥檚 regional envoy Steve Witkoff that 鈥済ot 25 out.鈥�
Netanyahu鈥檚 visit follows the collapse of Israel鈥檚 six-week truce with Palestinian group Hamas, whose militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 that triggered the war.
The fragile ceasefire ended with Israel鈥檚 resumption of air strikes on Gaza on March 18.
The recent truce had allowed the return of 33 Israeli hostages, eight of whom were dead, in exchange for the release of some 1,800 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
The prime minister and his government maintain 鈥� against the advice of most hostage families 鈥� that increased military pressure is the only way to force Hamas to return the remaining hostages, dead or alive.
Of the 251 hostages abducted during Hamas鈥檚 October 7 attack, 58 remain in captivity in Gaza, including 34 who the Israeli military says are dead.