Netanyahu Before Takeoff: “We’re Determined to Bring Them All Home”
Speaking from Ben Gurion Airport ahead of his flight to Washington, PM says Israel has a real chance to expand peace and finalize a hostage deal.
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In a statement delivered from the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport Sunday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled cautious optimism ahead of his visit to Washington, where he is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump for the third time since Trump returned to office.
“I’m now departing for an important visit to Washington, together with my wife, to meet President Trump,” Netanyahu began. “This is our third meeting in just over half a year. I’ll also be meeting with top administration officials and members of Congress from both parties.”
Netanyahu praised Trump as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House,” crediting their joint efforts for what he called a “massive victory” against their shared enemy, Iran.
Referring to Israel’s recent military achievements, the prime minister spoke of “heroic Israeli pilots flying over Iran,” the IDF’s successful operations against Hezbollah, and decisive blows dealt to Hamas in Gaza.
“These achievements bring both a heavy responsibility and a great opportunity,” he said, stressing the need to block Iran’s renewed attempts to pursue nuclear weapons.
Yet it was the Gaza front and the issue of hostages that drew Netanyahu’s most pointed remarks.
“To date, we’ve freed 205 of the 255 hostages, including 148 who were alive. There are 20 still alive, and 30 confirmed dead. I am absolutely determined, we are determined, to bring them all home,” Netanyahu said. “We will not allow Gaza to remain a threat to Israel. No more kidnappings, no more slaughter, no more invasions. Hamas’s military and governing capabilities must be dismantled.”
He confirmed that Israel had dispatched a negotiating team with “clear instructions,” and hinted that Trump’s involvement could be the game changer.
“I believe my conversation with President Trump can definitely help push this deal forward,” Netanyahu said.
On the broader diplomatic horizon, Netanyahu hinted at historic breakthroughs: “We have a real opportunity to expand the circle of peace far beyond what we could’ve imagined. We’ve already reshaped the Middle East and we can go even further.”
As Netanyahu boarded his flight to Washington, the message was clear: The stakes are high, the goals are bold, and the window for a breakthrough, on both the hostage front and regional diplomacy, may now be open.