Herzog backs nascent hostage deal, says ‘stubborn details’ still being hammered out

Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel

President Isaac Herzog meets at his residence in Jerusalem with family members of hostages, fallen and reservists, January 16, 2025. (Maayan Toaf/GPO)
President Isaac Herzog meets at his residence in Jerusalem with family members of hostages, fallen and reservists, January 16, 2025. (Maayan Toaf/GPO)

President Isaac Herzog says there are still negotiations on some “stubborn details” of the hostage release-ceasefire deal.

The president says he fully backs the nascent deal, noting that there are “stubborn negotiations on a very significant detail. I hope and expect that this will be completed as soon as possible.”

The Prime Minister’s Office has said that the final disagreement hinges on the identities of Palestinian prisoners slated to be released from Israeli jails.

Herzog makes the comments in a meeting with family members of hostages, fallen soldiers and reservists who express their support for the deal, including loved ones of slain hostages Yotam Haim and Omer Neutra as well as Bar Kupershtein, who has been held in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

Supporting the deal is “the right thing to do, the most just and the most necessary,” and all stages of it must be implemented, adds Herzog. “What we need to do now is to give it full support,” and hopefully we will soon “begin to see them coming home.”

Most Popular