Regarding ongoing negotiations to reach a deal with Hamas under which captives would be exchanged, Netanyahu says “the conditions for their return are ripe”, Al Jazeera reports.

He made the comments during a meeting with representatives of the families of Israeli captives in Washington, where he is conducting an official visit, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

“The conditions are ripe for the simple reason that we are putting very strong pressure on Hamas and we are seeing a certain change and I think that change will increase as we get closer to doing that,” Netanyahu said.