Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu spoke with US President Donald Trump and the two exchanged congratulations on the “historic achievement” of reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza Strip and the release of all remaining hostages in the Palestinian enclave, the former’s office said.

Netanyahu’s announcement

“With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all of our hostages will return home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.

From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all of our hostages are returned and all of our goals are achieved.

Through unwavering determination, strong military action and the great efforts of our great friend and ally, President Trump, we have reached this critical turning point.

I thank President Trump for his leadership, his cooperation and his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and the freedom of our hostages.

God bless Israel.
God bless America.
God bless our great alliance.”

The two men agreed to continue their close cooperation, and Prime Minister Netanyahu invited President Trump to address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in a speech, according to the same source.

The Israeli government expects hostages in the Gaza Strip to start being released the day after Saturday, a spokesman told Reuters news agency, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an agreement on the first phase of a ceasefire.

He did not specify whether he expects all 48 hostages, both alive and dead, to be released at once.

Earlier, Netanyahu said he was convening a cabinet meeting later in the day to approve the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, which includes the repatriation of all hostages remaining in Hamas’s hands.

It is “a great day for Israel,” Netanyahu said in a statement after US President Donald Trump announced an agreement to end the now more than two-year-long war.