“It was a hard decision, but the right decision,” Netanyahu said about the deal.

“It was a hard decision, but the right decision,” Netanyahu said about the deal.

He spoke one day after the government approved an agreement by which up to 98 hostages including women and children would be freed in exchange for the first pause in the war and the release of three times as many jailed Palestinian women and minors.

Netanyahu assured that the pause would be temporary and that Israel’s military campaign to oust Hamas from Gaza would resume when it was over.

“The war is continuing… until we achieve all of our goals: return all of the hostages, eliminate Hamas, and ensure that on the day after Hamas, no element that supports terrorism educates its children for terrorism and pays terrorists or their families will control Gaza. 

“Gaza will no longer constitute a threat to Israel. We will restore security in both the south and the north. We are winning and will continue to fight until absolute victory,” he affirmed.

Gaza hostages deal

Netanyahu spoke as Mossad chief David Barnea was reportedly in Qatar, a country that along with Egypt had mediated the agreement to free 50 to 98 out of the over 239 hostages held in Gaza since October 7.

Netanyahu also promised that all the hostages would be released, including Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed: the two Israeli captives that Hamas has held since 2014 and 2015.

He also referenced Lt. Hadar Goldin and Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul: the two soldiers believed killed in the 2014 Gaza war.

“We will return everyone home. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone,” Netanyahu said.

Hamas had seized the hostages when it infiltrated southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people. Israel has since conducted a military campaign to oust the genocidal terrorist group from Gaza.

Netanyahu thanked US President Joe Biden for his efforts to secure and expand the deal, even as he took credit for Biden’s increased involvement.

“We conducted difficult negotiations; we fought to improve the outline," Netanyahu said. "I have just spoken again with President Biden and thanked him for acting, as per my request, with the intermediaries to significantly improve the outline; such an improvement has been achieved."

He also assured reporters that Israeli Security had Hamas in its scope.

 “I instructed the Mossad to act against Hamas leaders where they are,” Netanyahu said as he hinted that Israelis could target them outside of Gaza, including in Qatar.