There are 20 confirmed living hostages in Gaza, and “up to 38” slain hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says at a press conference in Jerusalem, the first in five months.
“We will bring everyone back,” he promises in his first press conference since December.
Israel has a “very organized” plan to achieve its war aims in Gaza, he insists, adding that the war in Gaza has “a purpose that is clear and justified.”
“To defeat Hamas, which carried out the atrocities of October 7; to bring back all of our hostages; and to ensure that Gaza does not present a threat to Israel.”
The goals are complementary, he argues, “and we have to achieve them fully.”
Israel has “apparently” killed Hamas military leader Muhammad Sinwar, says Netanyahu.
He says that if there is a possibility for a “temporary ceasefire” that will return more hostages, we are ready for that, but repeats that this would only be temporary.
Your next read: ToI Editors' Picks
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Join The Times of Israel Community today and you'll receive a physical book of your choice, carefully curated by our editors.
Choose between two must-reads: When We See You Again by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, a searing portrait of a mother’s grief and strength following unthinkable tragedy;
Or Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe by Matti Friedman, the gripping and surprising tale of a forgotten moment during World War II.
As a Community member, you’ll also enjoy our DocuNation series of outstanding Israeli documentary films, an ad-free experience of our site and podcasts, commenting privileges, and more.
CHOOSE YOUR BOOK
CHOOSE YOUR BOOK
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
