Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that Israel’s truce with Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah, due to expire this weekend, will be extended.

Israel’s enemies across the region have been badly weakened during 15 months of war. Israeli hostages have begun to come home from captivity in Gaza, and Netanyahu’s good friend, Donald Trump , is back in the White House.

In a speech as Israel awaited the release of the first hostages on Saturday, Mr Netanyahu said both president Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the president-elect, had promised him Israel had the right to resume the fighting “in new ways and with very great power” if Hamas violated the deal.

The Israeli prime minister has to navigate complicated domestic politics with his aim of destroying Hamas and the need to keep the US on side.

The problem for Netanyahu is Netanyahu. Consumed by the desire to stay in power, he has been wedged between overwhelming public demand for the hostages to be released, and those who keep him in power—his coalition partners.

As a Gaza ceasefire deal appears imminent, it's clear that Netanyahu has prolonged the war arbitrarily — and is doing this for Trump.

Netanyahu's office said Thursday his Cabinet won't meet to approve the Gaza ceasefire deal until Hamas backs down from what it called a "last minute crisis."

President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call on Sunday to discuss the ongoing ceasefire and hostage release negotiations.

TEL AVIV, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a deal to return Hamas-held hostages in the Gaza Strip has been reached. The announcement came a day after Netanyahu’s office said there were last-minute snags in talks to free hostages in return for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted a truce deal with Hamas, leading to a significant development in the ongoing conflict. As part of the agreement, Hezbollah fighters will be released from Israeli custody,

IDF Chief Herzi Halevi announced his resignation, citing responsibility for Oct. 7 attack failures. His departure intensifies calls for accountability, placing pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu.