Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently defended his government’s commitment to negotiating a deal to release the hostages held in Gaza in the face of criticism from Hamas and Israeli protesters. The Israeli prime minister, speaking at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, acknowledged the ongoing negotiations under the current challenging circumstances and stated that military pressure imposed on Hamas was effective in creating chances for the hostage’s release. He also emphasized that his government is willing to discuss the final stage of a hostage release and ceasefire arrangement with Hamas, asserting the necessity for Hamas to lay down its arms and allowing its leaders to leave in return.
Netanyahu’s remarks come amid pressure both internationally and domestically, with tens of thousands of Israelis rallying to protest the handling of negotiations regarding the hostages. The conflict escalated after Israel’s military strike on Gaza, with some accusing Netanyahu of endangering the captives instead of seeking their release. Among them was Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan Zangauker, who remains captive, and accused the prime minister of executing a “targeted assassination” against her son.
As of now, out of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel, 58 still remain in Gaza, including the 34 whom the Israeli military has declared dead. In an effort to aid the talks, mediators including Egypt, Qatar, and the US continue their push for a ceasefire and hostage release. On Saturday, Hamas was reported to have offered the release of five living hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire, with the group’s chief, Khalil al-Hayya, expressing willingness for the deal to happen over Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday.
Netanyahu’s office later confirmed receiving a proposal and said Israel submitted a counteroffer, although specific details of the negotiation remain undisclosed. Despite the emphasis on negotiations, his office also announced that he would be defying an arrest warrant from the international criminal court, regarding alleged war crimes, by visiting Hungary for a multi-day trip beginning April 2. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán extended this invitation shortly after the arrest warrant was issued.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/30/netanyahu-says-he-is-willing-to-reach-deal-to-free-israeli-hostages
