Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israel hopes 'to get our hostages out'

During a meeting with U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he hopes "to get our hostages out." 

After Israeli officials said no hostages would be released until Friday at the earliest, Netanyahu said the mission is "not without its challenges, but we have to, we hope to get this first tranche out."

Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel's commitment to getting "everyone out" but promised to continue the war against Hamas once a potential cease-fire is lifted. 

"We'll continue with our war aims, namely to eradicate Hamas, because Hamas has already promised that they would do this again and again and again. They're a genocidal terrorist cult," the prime minister said. 

Cameron is on his first visit to Israel his appointment to U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's cabinet. He toured  areas of southern Israel on Thursday where the worst of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas were carried out.

"To see just the true nature of the horrific attacks that you faced, I think it's very important to do that and see that," Cameron told Netanyahu. He spoke favorably of the potential "humanitarian pause" to exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and deliver aid to Gaza, though he emphasized Hamas should release all hostages.