Netanyahu Addresses Nation Amid Ceasefire with Hamas

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to the nation as a ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip began, announcing an agreement to bring back the remaining 48 hostages to Israel.

In his address, Netanyahu took the chance to defend his strategy against those who have criticized his handling of the war over the past two years. He highlighted that many had doubted Israel’s capacity to recover any hostages, but he maintained a different stance, believing in a combination of military pressure and diplomatic engagement. He pushed against home and international pressures to abandon military targets, ultimately opting for military strategies that he felt would yield a better outcome.

“I thought differently and acted differently,” he said, referring to those who believe the conflict should be resolved hastily. He reiterated his commitment to defeating Hamas and securing the release of all hostages, claiming that a new agreement with U.S. President Trump was a step toward fulfilling that promise.

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would maintain its right to resume military action if Hamas failed to comply with the terms of the agreement “in an easy way,” asserting that the deal would help disarm Hamas and remove it from power, as desired.

In closing, on what he termed “this emotional day,” he expressed gratitude to the Israeli soldiers, especially those who have fallen or been wounded. He also acknowledged President Trump’s role along with U.S. negotiators and Israeli diplomats for their support towards Israel.

He mentioned that the holiday of Simchat Torah, which marked a period of mourning in 2023, would become a time of “national well-being” in 2025.