Netanyahu says Israel working on new Gaza hostage deal; Trump praises his efforts, says Israelis want the hostages out ‘more than anything’

Speaking to reporters after meeting with US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israel is working on a new deal for a hostage release and ceasefire deal in Gaza “that we hope will succeed.”

Netanyahu says that they’re committed to getting all of the hostages released and eliminating Hamas from Gaza.

“We’re working now on another deal that we hope will succeed, and we’re committed to getting all the hostages out,” Netanyahu tells reporters in the Oval Office.

Netanyahu adds that “the hostages are in agony, and we want to get them all out.”

He says he also spoke to Trump about the US president’s plan to move displaced Palestinians from Gaza while it’s redeveloped, which Netanyahu calls a “bold” vision.

Trump says the Gaza war will stop in the not-too-distant future. “I’d like to see the war stop, and I think the war will stop at some point that won’t be in the too distant future. Right now, we have a problem with hostages. We’re trying to get the hostages out…. It’s a long process. It shouldn’t be that long.”

Trump says Netanyahu is working very hard to release the hostages, and he hopes Israelis appreciate his efforts.

Says Trump: “We are trying very hard to get the hostages out. We are looking at another ceasefire; we’ll see what happens. We want to get the hostages out.”

He says “the Israeli people want the hostages out. More than anything, they want the hostages out. This man is working very hard with us to do that. I don’t know, I hope he’s being appreciated because he’s been a great leader. He’s working very, very hard on the hostages and many other things… It’s a tough place in the world.”

Netanyahu interjects: “I have a good partner.”

Says Trump: “You do have a good partner, and so do we.”