Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu released a video message emphasizing that his government is fully committed to securing the release of the hostages, while simultaneously maintaining relentless military pressure on Hamas.
Speaking outside the IDF’s Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu stated, “I’m leaving from here to meet with the US ambassador. We are making all the efforts, including throughout today, to bring the release of our hostages and to achieve the goals of our war.”
“We are not giving up on anyone,” he said firmly.
Responding to claims that the hostage crisis is not a top priority for him or his administration, Netanyahu said he paused his legal proceedings earlier in the day to focus on diplomatic efforts, explaining that “I stopped my trial today” in order to “take two hours this afternoon to speak with [US special envoy to the Mideast Steve] Witkoff in Doha — because I asked to send a delegation to Doha in order to try and progress the release of our hostages.”
He stressed, “So they are at the forefront of my mind, they are there, together with the combined objectives of military pressure.”
The prime minister added, “And also on all of these things I spoke continuously about today at the Kirya. That’s what we’re doing, hours upon hours, and now I am going, like I said, to continue the job, in Yerushalayim.”
{Matzav.com Israel}