Alongside US envoys, Netanyahu tells cabinet that Israel ‘about to achieve goal’ of hostages’ return

Speaking at the cabinet meeting called to ratify the hostage release deal with Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel “is about to achieve” the return of its hostages.

“We’ve fought during these two years to achieve our war aims,” says Netanyahu in English, alongside top White House aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. “A central one of these war aims is to return the hostages, all of the hostages, the living and the dead. And we are about to achieve that goal.”

Netanyahu says Israel “couldn’t have achieved it without the extraordinary help of President Trump and his team, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. They worked tirelessly with Ron [Dermer] and his team, our team. And that, and the courage of our soldiers, to enter Gaza, and combine military and diplomatic pressure that isolated Hamas, I think has brought us to this point.”

He thanks the two American for their long hours of work. “I think you put in your brains, and your hearts,” he says.

“And we know that it’s for the benefit of Israel and the United States, and the benefit of the decent people of the world. And for the benefit of these families who will finally get to be with their loved ones.”

וידאו: דברי ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו בישיבת הממשלה לאישור מתווה שחרור החטופים, יחד עם השליח המיוחד סטיב וויטקוף וחתנו של נשיא ארה״ב ג׳ארד קושנר. pic.twitter.com/OFz7xy0iZe

— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) October 9, 2025