Netanyahu says committed to returning all hostages, ending Hamas

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday evening reiterated that Israel will do “everything” to bring back all the hostages who remain in Gaza and vowed to eliminate Hamas, the terrorist organization that carried out the deadliest single-day attack in the Jewish state’s history on Oct. 7, 2023.

In a video statement released on X, Netanyahu welcomed Or Levy, 34, Eli Sharabi, 52, and Ohad Ben Ami, 56, who were released from Hamas captivity on Saturday morning and reunited with their loved ones in Israel.

Before their release, Hamas terrorists paraded the hostages on a stage in front of a raucous crowd of Palestinians in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah. The three men appeared frail and emaciated.

“Or, Eli, and Ohad returned home today. Sara [Netanyahu] and I embrace them and their dear families,” the prime minister said.

“Once again, we have seen [the true nature of] Hamas’s monsters. These are the same monsters who massacred our civilians and abused our hostages. And I say to them again: Their blood is on their own hands,” the premier said.

“We will do everything to bring back all our hostages. We will ensure their security. This is the instruction I gave to the delegation—to convey this to the mediators and to demand it,” Netanyahu continued, referring to the Israeli delegation departing for Qatar this weekend for talks on the terms of the second stage of the truce with Hamas.

“But beyond that, President [Donald] Trump completely agreed with me: We will do everything to bring back all the hostages, but Hamas will not be there. We will eliminate Hamas and bring our hostages home,” Netanyahu said.

Earlier, Netanyahu’s office released a statement welcoming home the captives. “The government of Israel embraces the three returnees,” it read, adding, “The shocking images that we have seen today will not go unaddressed.

“The government, together with all of the security officials, will accompany them and their families. The government of Israel is committed to returning all of the hostages and the missing,” it read.