Netanyahu Says It Is Unclear If Hostage Deal Will Emerge

Netanyahu Says It Is Unclear If Hostage Deal Will Emerge
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a cabinet meeting at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 24, 2023. (Ohad Zwigenberg/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Reuters
2/26/2024
Updated:
2/26/2024

WASHINGTON—Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday said it was not clear yet whether a hostage deal would materialize from ongoing talks, declining to discuss specifics but saying the Islamist terrorist group Hamas needed to “come down to a reasonable situation.”

Mr. Netanyahu, speaking in an interview with CBS News, added he was meeting with staff later on Sunday to review a dual military plan that included the evacuation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and an operation to destroy remaining Hamas battalions.

“If we have a deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen. If we don’t have a deal, we'll do it anyway,” he told CBS.