Netanyahu Calls on Trump to Push for Larger Release of Israeli Hostages Held by Hamas

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged US President-elect Donald Trump to pressure mediators to secure the release of more Israeli hostages held by Hamas. According to a report by N12 on Sunday, Netanyahu emphasized the need for the US to push for a more substantial release, as current offers from Hamas were deemed insufficient.

Hamas has reportedly shown willingness to negotiate for a humanitarian release of hostages, a move Netanyahu described as unprecedented. However, the Israeli Prime Minister criticized the limited number of hostages Hamas has agreed to free, calling it "unacceptable."

Despite this, significant gaps remain between the two sides regarding the number of hostages to be included in any potential deal. Netanyahu's office declined to provide further details on his conversation with President-elect Trump, stating only that the Prime Minister is working to release hostages as quickly as possible.

IDF Strikes Hamas Terror Cells and Dismantles Weaponry

Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), in coordination with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), continued its operations in Gaza to dismantle Hamas terror cells. On Sunday, IDF soldiers from the Givati Brigade carried out a series of targeted operations in the Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya areas. These operations resulted in the elimination of dozens of Hamas terrorists and the arrest of additional terror suspects.

In Beit Lahiya, large quantities of weapons, including explosives and grenades, were seized in a raid aimed at reducing the operational capabilities of terrorist groups in the region.

Earlier, the Israel Air Force (IAF) conducted airstrikes targeting a Hamas command center located in a facility that had previously housed the Abu Shabak clinic in northern Gaza. This compound had been repurposed to store weapons and plan attacks against Israeli targets.

On Saturday night, the IAF launched precise strikes on a terrorist cell in Gaza City that was planning imminent attacks against Israeli targets. The strikes targeted three separate locations, successfully neutralizing the cell and removing the immediate threat to Israeli civilians and military personnel.

Throughout all these operations, the IDF has taken extensive precautions to avoid civilian casualties, using precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and thorough intelligence assessments.