Netanyahu: Hostage Deal Could Be Finalized ‘Within Days’

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu voiced cautious optimism Thursday about a potential agreement with Hamas terrorists to secure the release of Israeli hostages.

“I hope we can complete it in a few days,” Netanyahu told Newsmax’s Greta Van Susteren in an interview recorded ahead of his return flight to Israel.

He indicated the deal would likely include a 60-day pause in fighting. “Get the first batch out and then use the 60 days to try to negotiate an end to this,” said Netanyahu, speaking at the end of a four-day US visit that included two meetings with President Donald Trump. “And this could end tomorrow — today, if Hamas lays down its arms.”

“We think we can bring it to completion,” he added. “So I wouldn’t tell you that we have a war goal that is unachievable. We’re going to defeat these monsters and get our hostages back.”

The prime minister also accused Hamas of blocking civilians in Gaza from escaping combat zones, describing it as a brutal tactic.

“It is a fighting force and a governing force in Gaza that oppresses its people, targets our people, our civilians, and uses their civilians as human shields,” Netanyahu said. “And then they complain that the civilian losses are because of us. No, we say to the civilians, ‘Leave. Leave the war zone.’ … And Hamas says, ‘You don’t go. You try to leave the war zone, we’ll shoot you.’”

He continued: “And they shoot them because they want the pictures of dead civilians that they are causing put on Israel’s head. And that’s what you get in TikTok and the social media: ‘Israel is deliberately killing civilians.’ No, we’re not. Hamas is deliberately killing its own people, preventing them from escaping the war zone. So they’re monsters.”

Netanyahu claimed that Hamas’ control in Gaza is weakening.

“There are Palestinians fighting Hamas because we weaken them to this point. We see something that never happened before. Palestinians in Gaza are fighting Hamas.”

He also praised his coordination with Trump as “extraordinary.”

“Look at what our cooperation produces,” Netanyahu said. “Look at what happens when there’s no daylight between an American president and an Israeli prime minister.”

Netanyahu emphasized that he and Trump are united by a shared strategic approach: “We’re achieving a common doctrine. It’s called peace through strength. First comes strength, then comes the peace.”

He hinted that diplomatic progress with other countries may be forthcoming. “There are several countries waiting in the wings” to make peace, he said.

Netanyahu also tied the issue of hostage-taking to Iran, saying that the tactic is part of the Islamic Republic’s long-standing agenda. “This is part of the Iranian doctrine. This is part of the Iranian evil axis.”