Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday addressed the nation following the launch of the implementation phase of the plan to free the hostages and end the war in Gaza, calling the development a "tremendous achievement" for Israel.
"We mark today one of our tremendous achievements in the War of Redemption: the return of all of the hostages, both the living and the deceased," Netanyahu declared. "This is a crucial goal which we have insisted upon throughout the war."
The Prime Minister emphasized that the government had fulfilled its commitment to bring every hostage home, saying, "Throughout the two years that have passed since the beginning of the war, I have promised to the families of the hostages - and also promised to you, the citizens of Israel - that we will return everyone, with no exceptions. We made that promise and we are keeping our promise."
Netanyahu noted that despite domestic and international pressure to halt military operations, Israel had continued its campaign with a singular focus on national security and the release of the hostages. "I had to face enormous pressure, both domestic and foreign... yet, I steadfastly resisted all that pressure, because my focus was on one single consideration: Israel's security."
He credited the combined use of military and diplomatic pressure, as well as cooperation with President Donald Trump, for the success of the plan. "I believed that if we apply heavy military pressure on Hamas, combined with heavy diplomatic pressure, we will indeed be able to return all of our hostages. And that's exactly what we did," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu detailed that, prior to President Trump entering the White House, 158 hostages were returned, 117 of them alive. Following the start of Trump’s tenure, 49 additional hostages, both living and deceased, were brought home. He added that the final stages of the plan would see the return of the remaining 48 hostages, 20 living and 28 deceased.
"Hamas only agreed to this deal when it felt the sword on its neck - and the sword remains on its neck," Netanyahu stressed, attributing the breakthrough to Israel’s continued presence in Gaza and the diplomatic isolation of Hamas.
Turning emotional, Netanyahu spoke of his meetings with the hostages’ families, saying he and his wife had been deeply moved by their pain and resilience. He vowed that the fallen would be brought to proper Jewish burial, calling it "a sacred duty of communal responsibility."
The Prime Minister expressed deep gratitude to IDF soldiers and security forces for their sacrifices throughout the war, and thanked President Trump and his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, for their roles in developing and advancing the plan.
He concluded by quoting the biblical promise to Rachel, saying, "The name of the operation, 'Returning Home', is a paraphrase of the promise given to Our Mother Rachel... 'and your children shall return to their own border.' Our sons and daughters shall return home."
"Together, we will overcome the challenges; together, we will fulfil the opportunities; together, we will complete our missions; together, we will expand the circle of peace around us," Netanyahu said.