Netanyahu sets out his plan for Gaza without mentioning the hostages

Binyamin Netanyahu was replying to the ABC News presenter George Stephanopoulos who had asked him what his strategy was in bringing the Gaza war to an end and planning a future administration of Gaza. The Israeli prime gave an extensive reply outlining what he saw as his priorities. The first two were the destruction of the Hamas organisation and the second was the demilitarisation of Gaza. He gave other issues on his list. But he completely neglected to mention the release of hostages. Stephanopoulos thnked him for his time and signed off. As the screen faded you could hear behind the blank screen the voice of Netanyahu beginning to say..... "and handing over...." But it was too late. The interview had come to an end. Extraordinary that he didn't put the release of the hostages as the first or second of his priorities, and extraordinary that Stephanopoulos didn't pick him up on the failure to mention the remaining hostages in Hamas's hands, believed to be around 130. I don't think anyone has pointed it out. But it would seem to have been a grave lapse on his part. The only news you get these days about the fate of the hostages is when the Israeli military announces that they have found the bodies of dead hostages. What the hostages have suffered in the more than seven monhs of war is too terrifying to contemplate. And it must surely be THE main priority of the Israeli government to gain their release, one way or the other.