‘With God’s help we will bring them all home,’ says Netanyahu at same time as US president’s declaration * Sources tell ToI that terror group will release all the living hostages from Gaza on Saturday
Hamas demands mediators ‘compel the occupation government to fully implement’ Gaza deal
Hamas issues a statement confirming the hostage-ceasefire agreement with Israel, which the terror group says “provides for an end to the war in Gaza, the withdrawal of the occupation forces, the entry of humanitarian aid, and a prisoner exchange.”
The Palestinian terrorist organization thanks the mediators and US President Donald Trump for brokering an end to the war triggered by its October 7, 2023, onslaught against Israel, while urging them “to compel the occupation government to fully implement the obligations of the agreement and to prevent it from evading or delaying the implementation of what has been agreed upon.”
“We salute our great people in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem and the West Bank, inside our homeland and abroad, who have demonstrated unmatched honor, courage, and steadfastness, confronting the occupation’s fascist schemes that targeted them and their national rights,” the statement adds.
“We affirm that our people’s sacrifices will not be in vain, and we pledge to remain faithful to our cause and never abandon our national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved.”
Netanyahu says government will meet Thursday to okay deal to ‘bring all our dear hostages home’
By Nava Freiberg
After Hamas agrees to the first phase of the US plan to end the Gaza war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hails “a great day for Israel” and says he will convene the government tomorrow to authorize the agreement.
“A great day for Israel. Tomorrow I will convene the government to approve the agreement and bring all our dear hostages home,” Netanyahu says in a statement from his office.
“I thank the brave IDF soldiers and all the security forces — it is thanks to their courage and sacrifice that we have reached this day,” he adds.
The premier extends his “heartfelt thanks” to US President Donald Trump and his team “for their dedication to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages.”
“With God’s help, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbors,” Netanyahu concludes.
Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, posts her response to news that he is set to be freed with the rest of the hostages in the near future.
“Matan is coming home to me, to [his sisters] Natalie and Shani, and to [his partner] Ilana, the love of his life,” writes Zangauker, who has been among the most vociferous critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage crisis and war.
“To all of you, to the state, I prayed for these tears,” she concludes.
Hostages and Missing Families Forum greets US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a deal to free their loved ones from Hamas captivity and end the war in Gaza with “excitement, hope and concern.”
“This is important and significant progress toward returning everyone, but our struggle has not ended and will not end until the last hostage returns,” the group says in a statement.
The forum calls on the government to immediately hold a meeting to approve the agreement, warning that any delay could pose a risk to the captives and Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
The families also express “their deep thanks” to Trump and his administration, hailing his “leadership and determination which led to a historic breakthrough.”
“There are still 48 hostages in Hamas captivity. We are obliged morally and as a nation to return everyone home, the living and dead together,” the statement adds.
Israeli negotiator Nitzan Alon (far left) shakes hands with Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in a photo indicating success in the mediated Israel-Hamas negotiations on a Gaza hostage-ceasefire agreement in Sharm el-Sheikh, in the early hours of October 9, 2025. Second from right with back to camera is US special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. (Telegram / used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)
Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al—Ansari tweets, “The mediators announce that tonight an agreement was reached on all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid.”
“The details will be announced later,” he adds.
Recommended Comments