Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Netanyahu thanks Trump for ‘standing by our side’
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks in a video message on June 18, 2025. (Screenshot/GPO)
As Israel waits for US President Donald Trump to announce whether the US will join Israel’s strikes against Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanks Trump for “standing by our side.”
“We are in continuous communication, including last night—we had a very warm conversation,” says Netanyahu in his daily video statement.
Netanyahu acknowledges that Israel is suffering “many losses, painful losses.”
“But we see that the home front is strong, the people are steadfast, and Israel is stronger than ever,” he says.
He notes that “intense fighting continues in the Gaza Strip.”
“We will continue until we bring everyone home and until Hamas is fully defeated,” Netanyahu says.
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