Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is prepared for every scenario, defensively and offensively, threatening to exact a heavy price in response to “any hostile action against us from any front.” Netanyahu claimed that he is prepared to go far to reach a prisoner exchange deal, considering that the leaks issued by high-ranking Israeli officials in the negotiating team and the security services “harm the negotiations.”

Netanyahu's remarks came at the start of his government's weekly meeting on Sunday, following the stabbing attack in Holon that killed two Israelis and wounded others, and amid fears of regional escalation and anticipation of an expected attack by Iran and Hezbollah in response to the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

Netanyahu said: “This morning there was a deadly terrorist attack in Holon. I send my condolences to the families of those killed and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. I commend the police who confronted and killed the attacker; we will hold accountable all those who cooperated with him; we continue our ongoing battle against terror. I congratulate the IDF and the Shin Bet on the important operation they carried out yesterday in Tulkarm. Our forces killed terrorists who were planning to kill many Israelis, and in doing so they saved many lives.”

"Israel is in a multi-front war against the Iranian axis of evil. We are striking hard in every one of its arms. We are prepared for every scenario - both in defense and attack. I repeat to our enemies: We will respond and exact a heavy price for every act of aggression against us, from whatever front," he added.

“In parallel, we are making a great effort every day to bring back all the hostages. I emphasize - to bring back all the hostages, without exception. We have a strong commitment to bring back everyone - both the living and the dead,” he continued. “Therefore, I directed the (negotiating) delegation to go to Cairo yesterday to continue the negotiations. That is why I am determined to increase the number of living hostages who will be released in the first stage of the deal, and to maintain the leverage in favor of releasing all the hostages in the future.”

He claimed that he was "prepared to go to great lengths to secure the release of all the hostages, while preserving Israel's security. Our commitment stands in complete contradiction to the leaks and false briefings on the issue of releasing the hostages. These briefings harm the negotiations, and to our great regret - they also mislead the families of the hostages. They create the false impression that Hamas agreed to the deal, and the Israeli government is the one that rejects it."

“The exact opposite is true – the simple truth is that Hamas has not yet agreed to the most basic terms of the agreement. While we have not added any terms to the agreement, Hamas is the one that has asked to add dozens of amendments. (The movement) has not backed down from its demand that Israel cannot resume the war, and it is asking us to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor and from the Rafah crossing – its lifeline, which will enable it to rearm and strengthen itself again. It is important to establish the principle – we will not leave there.”

He also claimed that "Hamas also does not agree to allow any mechanism that would verify and prevent the transfer of weapons and terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip. It is doing all this because it wants to recover and strengthen itself, and repeat the October 7 massacre, as it promised to do. The truth is that the one preventing the release of the hostages is Hamas, which continues to oppose the agreement, and not the Israeli government that accepted it."

"Anyone who wants, like us, the release of the hostages must direct pressure on Hamas - not on the Israeli government. For our part, we will continue to exert military pressure on Hamas and its leaders, until all the hostages are returned and all the war goals are achieved," he continued.