Netanyahu praises hostage release, says Israel committed to returning all captives

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said Israel is committed to bringing home all of the hostages being held by Hamas. 

In a short video message posted to X hours after the first batch of hostages were released, Netanyahu said returning the captives is one of Israel’s objectives.  

"We just completed the return of the first of our hostages: children, their mothers and additional women,” he said. “Each of them is an entire world.” 

He emphasized that Israel is committed to “returning all of the hostages.” “This is one of the aims of the war,” he said. “And we are committed to achieving all the aims of the war.” 

The first hostages were freed at the start of a temporary pause in the fighting beginning Friday.  

No American hostages were released. President Biden said he expects future waves of captives to be freed in the coming days.