Israeli PM to discuss hostage release deal with Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to Washington for a meeting with US President Donald Trump.

The upcoming phase of the Gaza ceasefire is likely to be discussed when the two leaders meet on February 4, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister’s office Dmitry Hendelman said that Netanyahu will depart for the US on February 2, where he intends to meet with President Donald Trump to discuss the next stages of an agreement for the release of hostages held by radicals in the Gaza Strip. 

"The prime minister will depart for the US on February 2 to meet with Donald Trump. A range of topics, including the next stages of the deal, will be discussed," he said.

Netanyahu's office confirmed that the Prime Minister will depart for the US on February 2 for a meeting with President Donald Trump. The office also noted that Netanyahu will be the first head of state to be received by President Trump after his inauguration. 

"At this historic meeting, the leaders will discuss the situation in Gaza, the issue of hostages, the confrontation with all elements of the Iranian axis of evil, and other key issues," the prime minister's office stated.

Moreover, Netanyahu said in a special video message that Israel will continue its decisive actions to secure the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip and achieve the objectives of its military operation against the Hamas militant group in the Palestinian enclave. 

"We will continue acting decisively to bring the hostages back to Israel and achieve all the goals of the war," he said. 

The prime minister also highlighted that in the past two weeks, Israel had successfully freed 13 Israelis and 5 Thai nationals from Hamas captivity. 

He said that Israel made it clear earlier this week during the previous stage [of hostage releases] that it would not tolerate violations of the agreement.

"We insisted and succeeded in securing the release of three of our hostages one week earlier and we demanded a safe passage for our hostages in the further stages," Netanyahu said, emphasising that this firm stance has proven to be justified."

"Israel expects that all further stages will also be carried out," he added. 

Meanwhile, on February 1, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz selected Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, the director general of the Defense Ministry, to be the next chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces. A brief statement from the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed Zamir's nomination. He is set to assume the position on March 6, becoming the 24th chief of staff of the IDF, following the resignation of Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. 

Halevi announced his resignation last month after serving only two years in the role, instead of the typical four. His departure had been anticipated due to the military failures that allowed the devastating October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, particularly as the war in Gaza started to wind down. Zamir, 59, had been widely regarded as the frontrunner to replace Halevi. Last week, Defense Minister Katz also named two other potential candidates: Maj. Gen. Amir Baram, the current IDF deputy chief of staff, and Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, the former chief of Ground Forces.

By Naila Huseynova