A few hours before the ceasefire with Hamas began, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu said the hostage deal was the “right choice” while vowing the war in Gaza would continue

The Israeli prime minister spoke on Wednesday afternoon, hours before the expected release of Israeli hostages from Gaza.

Netanyahu characterized the agreement, under which Israel will release approx 150 Palestinian prisoners, as “correct choice”. He clarified, however, that the war in Gaza will continue until Israel achieves all its goals. “We have a responsibility to rescue hostages; it can’t always be done through military operations.”

“We are winning, and we will continue to fight until we reach absolute victory” he interpreted.

Benjamin Netanyahu also had a telephone conversation with him US President Joe Bidenin which he thanked him for his efforts to reach the deal to be implemented in the next few hours, which will free at least 50 Israeli hostages from Gaza, an Israeli official said.

Biden has also been on the phone with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to confirm that all the details of the deal have been taken care of.

He reiterated that he will not allow an authority that incites (violence) against Israel to return to Gaza, meaning the Palestinian Authority.

Netanyahu pointed out that the IDF “will restore security both in the south and in the north.”

He also acknowledged that “victory comes at a huge price”, referring to the 70 soldiers who died fighting in Gaza last month.

Netanyahu said that in the meeting with the relatives of the hostages, they told him that they want the IDF to “continue to the end, until victory” and vowed to do so.