Netanyahu stresses 1st stage of deal must have ‘maximum number of living hostages’

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, August 19, 2024. (David Azagury/US Embassy Jerusalem)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, August 19, 2024. (David Azagury/US Embassy Jerusalem)

After his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu puts out a video statement saying that the two had “a very good and important meeting.”

Netanyahu says he appreciates “the understanding the US showed toward our vital security interests, amid our joint efforts to bring about the releases of our hostages.”

“I want to emphasize,” he continues, “efforts to release the maximum number of living hostages — in the first stage of the deal.”

The statement was released while Blinken was giving a press conference in Tel Aviv.

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