Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited soldiers in the Rafah area today (Thursday), observing the troops' progress and talking with commanders.
During the visit, Netanyahu issued a video statement where he said regarding the troops that "I have only become stronger here with their incredible achievements. I have become stronger in the understanding that their activity above the ground and below the ground is vital to Israeli security. And I became stronger in the understanding that our holding of the Philadephi Corridor and the Rafah crossing are vital for down the line."
Addressing the question of the hostage negotiations, Netanyahu said that "the military pressure they are applying, here by the throat of Hamas, helps us, along with the firm standing on our just demands, helps us to advance the hostage deal, including our demand to release a maximal number of male and female hostages already in the first stage of the deal."