Netanyahu Thanks Trump and Biden for Hostage Deal Progress, Discusses Future Plans

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for his crucial role in facilitating the release of hostages held by Hamas. Netanyahu made a phone call to Trump on Wednesday, thanking him for helping end the suffering of the hostages and their families. The Prime Minister also expressed his commitment to securing the return of all hostages and voiced his support for Trump’s statement on Truth Social, which emphasized ensuring "Gaza will never be a haven for terrorism."

Following this, Netanyahu also spoke with President Joe Biden to thank him for his efforts in advancing the hostage deal. The discussions between the two leaders focused on the success of the ceasefire deal and how to further address ongoing issues.

Trump's Reflection on the Deal

Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate the progress made on the hostage deal, calling the ceasefire agreement "EPIC" and a result of the "Historic Victory in November." He also expressed optimism about future successes once he returns to the White House, adding that his administration could secure more victories for the United States.

Smotrich's Concerns Over the Deal

Amid the discussions, the Religious Zionist Party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, met to assess the situation. Smotrich expressed his condition for staying in the government, which is a clear assurance of a return to war with full force, aimed at the complete destruction of Hamas and the safe return of all hostages. He did not receive the guarantees he was looking for during his meeting with Netanyahu, suggesting the potential for his party to leave the coalition if the deal proceeds without further assurances.

At the same time, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, also critical of the deal, called it “terrible” in a Channel 14 interview. While he did not directly threaten to leave the government, Ben-Gvir has exerted political pressure on Smotrich’s party to make a joint statement against the deal. Despite these objections, both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir's parties hold enough seats to potentially disrupt the government, though Netanyahu could still count on support from opposition leaders to help push the deal through.