Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally addressed the hostage deal negotiations and the possibility of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. In a published video, he claimed: "We are trying to secure the release of half of the living hostages and the remains of the deceased, in exchange for a temporary 60-day ceasefire. At the beginning of the ceasefire, we will enter negotiations on permanently ending the war under conditions we have set – Hamas lays down its weapons, loses its governmental and military capabilities – and Gaza is demilitarized." He added a threat: "If this is not achieved through negotiations within 60 days, we will achieve it through other means – by deploying military force."
