JERUSALEM 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said a ground offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip creates the possibility for the release of Israeli hostages. 

Addressing the media after a war cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said this “creates the possibility of getting our hostages out.”

“They will only do it when they are under pressure. This creates pressure. We think that this method stands a chance,” he added.

In the meeting, according to an official statement, he said the fight against Hamas could be long, but the aim is to defeat it and having a "different Gaza."

Al-Qassam Brigades, the Palestinian group's armed wing, said it holds up to 250 Israeli captives who were held during the Oct. 7 cross border attack it carried out. It released a video of captives demanding prisoner swap in exchange of their release.

Netanyahu, in response, released a statement saying: “We embrace the families and are doing everything to return all of the captives and missing to their families.”

Israeli army, which has heavily bombarded Gaza for three weeks, says it has expanded its ground operations as part of the “second stage of the war” to destroy Hamas's military and governing capabilities, and bring the captives back home.  

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar