'Hamas Will Be Disarmed': Netanyahu Hopes To Announce Return Of All Hostages 'In Coming Days'

Last Updated:October 05, 2025, 09:50 IST

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he was hopeful of announcing the return of all hostages from Gaza soon after Hamas partially agreed to Trump's peace plan.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu | File Image: AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was hopeful of announcing the return of all hostages from the Gaza Strip in the coming days, while the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) remain deep within the territory and in controlling areas as part of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

His statement came after a breakthrough in peace efforts when Hamas agreed to key elements of Trump’s peace proposal, including the release of all hostages and the handover of the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing.

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, we are on the verge of a very great achievement. It is not yet final; we are working on it diligently. I hope, with God’s help, that in the coming days, during the Sukkot holiday, I will be able to inform you about the return of all our hostages, both living and deceased, in one phase, while the IDF remains deep within the Strip and in the controlling areas within it," Netanyahu said in a statement to media.

“Throughout the war, there were also those who claimed relentlessly that we could not receive all the hostages without a complete and full withdrawal from the Strip. I thought differently – and I acted differently," he added. “Thanks to the determined decisions I led together with the Government, and thanks to the bravery of our fighters who pressured Hamas, we have so far returned 207 of our hostages.."

‘Hamas Will Be Disarmed’

Netanyahu said he never lost hope of recovering all hostages from Hamas captivity after the October 7 attacks in 2023, when the group captured 253 people. He said his government had not forgotten the hostages even for a moment as Israel launched a devastating military offensive in Gaza.

“Instead of Israel being isolated – Hamas is isolated. As a result of the intense military pressure we applied and the diplomatic pressure, Hamas was pressured into agreeing to the plan we presented," he said.

“In the first stage, Hamas will release all of our hostages, and IDF forces will redeploy in a way that the IDF will continue to hold all of the controlling areas deep inside the Strip."

“In the second stage, Hamas will be disarmed and the Strip demilitarised," Netanyahu said. “This will happen either via a diplomatic route according to the Trump Plan – or via a military route by us. I also said this in Washington: Either it will be achieved the easy way, or it will be achieved the hard way – but it will be achieved."

The Israeli PM thanked Trump for a “historic achievement" and also for assisting Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear sites in Iran in June. “I have instructed the negotiating team, headed by Minister Dermer, to go to Egypt to close the technical details of the release of our hostages. Our intention and that of our American friends is to limit this negotiation to a few days."

Trump On Gaza Ceasefire

This came after Donald Trump said Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line of Gaza, and a ceasefire will immediately come into effect when Hamas confirms, after which the hostages and prisoner exchange will begin.

“After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas. When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE," he said on Truth Social.

On Friday, the Palestinian militant group reacted positively to Trump’s plan that would end two years of war, saying it was ready to release all hostages and discuss details on the deal.

Trump, in turn, called on Israel to “immediately" halt its bombings of the war-ravaged territory, although Washington’s chief ally in the region said Saturday its troops were still operating in Gaza. Hours later, the enclave’s civil defence agency said at least 57 people have been killed since dawn in Israeli strikes, including 40 in Gaza City alone.

News world 'Hamas Will Be Disarmed': Netanyahu Hopes To Announce Return Of All Hostages 'In Coming Days'

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