Jerusalem
CNN
–
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “many opportunities have been opened” following Israeli military operations in Iran, including the possibility of bringing the remaining hostages home in Gaza.
Speaking at the Sinbet Security Agency facility in southern Israel on Sunday, Netanyahu said: “As you probably know, after this victory, many opportunities were opened up. To save the hostages first. Of course, you will need to solve the Gaza problem and defeat Hamas, but you will need to complete both missions.”
Netanyahu’s comments were one of the first times that explicitly prioritized the return of hostages against Hamas’ defeat.
For several months, Netanyahu prioritized Hamas’ defeat in Gaza and spoke about a “complete victory.” At the beginning of May, he called Hamas “the best purpose” without releasing the hostages.
His comments show potentially a major shift in how he spoke on Sunday about Israel’s goals in the war. He has repeatedly faced criticism from hostages, opposition politicians and families in a large segment of Israeli people, and has not clearly placed the return of hostages as Israel’s main goal.
In response to Sunday’s comments, Hostage Family Forum Headquarters called for a single comprehensive deal to reclaim all 50 hostages and end the battle in Gaza.
“What you need is a release, not a rescue. This difference in a word could mean the difference between hostage salvation and loss,” the forum said in a statement.
Elsewhere in the speech, Netanyahu said “a wider regional opportunity is open.” He said this is a clear reference to Israel’s efforts to expand Abraham’s agreement to normalize relations with several Gulf countries.
Netanyahu’s comments come to make a deal with a ceasefire amid growing pressure from US President Donald Trump on Israel. Since the conflict with Iran ended, negotiators have pushed for the resumption of stagnant negotiations with Hamas in Gaza.
Netanyahu held a high-level meeting in Gaza on Sunday evening to meet some of his closest advisers, including Strategy Minister Ron Dahmer and Defense Minister Israel Katz, to discuss updates on Israeli military operations in the Palestinian Enclave, according to two Israeli sources.
Dahmer is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Trump administration in Washington, D.C. on Monday.
Trump has revealed his desire to end the war in Gaza and secure a ceasefire contract to bring home the 50 hostages Hamas holds. At least 20 people are still alive.
Early Sunday morning, in a social media post, Trump told Israel, “We’re going to make a deal in Gaza. We’ll take hostages back!!!”
Trump previously threw his support behind Netanyahu, accusing his ongoing trial of corruption as a “political witch hunt” – the second time the president calls for an end to prosecution of long-standing Israeli leaders.
The conclusion of the operation in Iran and Trump’s sudden foray into Israel’s legal system – Netanyahu requested this week to postpone his trial session this week.
After rejecting the request twice, the court granted the delay following a secret session in which the judge said there had been changes to the “structure of evidence” compared to previous requests.
The latest proposal from US envoy Steve Witkov calls for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living and 18 dead hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
During this period, both sides will begin negotiations on a comprehensive ceasefire agreement to end the war. This is a significant demand from Hamas as part of any transaction.
Hamas is seeking stronger assurances about a permanent ceasefire. Until now, Israel refused to agree to a lasting end of the conflict, as it pursued its war goals to destroy Hamas’ ability to govern and Gaza’s disarmament. However, Israel’s success in military operations against Iran may have created a new window into pursuing negotiations. This is an opportunity for negotiators to capitalize.
Despite Israeli forces’ growing operations and new evacuation orders for parts of northern Gaza on Sunday, security sources told CNN that the troops are encouraged to pursue a diplomatic path in Gaza after more than 20 months of combat and the removal of senior Hamas leaders.
More than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes and military operations since the start of the war, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which does not distinguish between extremists and civilians. That number includes more than 17,000 children, the ministry said.
At least 15 people were killed when Israel was attacked by Jabaraya Al Balad and Jabaraya Al Nazare on Sunday, according to emergency workers in Gaza.
Fares Afana, head of Northen Gaza Emergency Services, told CNN on Sunday evening that between 10 and 15 people remained under the tiled rub.
One of the hit houses was “full of displaced people, and most of them were children,” Afana said.
