After the deal is concluded: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening (Wednesday) with United States President-elect Donald Trump - and with outgoing President Joe Biden.
A statement from Netanyahu's office said: "The Prime Minister thanked US President-elect Donald Trump for his help in promoting the release of the hostages, and for helping Israel bring an end to the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families.
""The Prime Minister made it clear that he is committed to returning all the abductees by any means, and congratulated the American president-elect for his words that the United States will work with Israel to ensure that Gaza will never be a haven for terrorism.".
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""The two have scheduled to meet soon in Washington to discuss this and other important issues.".
The bureau added: "Prime Minister Netanyahu then spoke with US President Joe Biden, and also thanked him for his help in advancing the hostage deal.".
Earlier, President Biden made a statement to the media.
""I presented the principles of the deal back in May. The agreement says that the ceasefire will last as long as the negotiations continue. Israel will negotiate the next stage in the next six weeks. Palestinians will be able to return to their homes in all areas of the Gaza Strip.".
Biden, who throughout the war undermined the possibility of Israel defeating Hamas, repeatedly expressed concern for the suffering of the citizens of Gaza, but refrained from speaking in a similar way about the suffering of Israeli citizens following the murderous attack against Israel and the war that continues to this day.
The outgoing president was asked how much credit should be given to incoming President Donald Trump for the deal. He smiled and said that he had ordered coordination to ensure "everyone speaks with one voice, because that's what American presidents do.".
