Tel Aviv, June 30 -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that Israel's operation against Iran had opened up "broad regional possibilities," while asserting that the top priority remained the return of the hostages held in Gaza, The Times of Israel reported.

Speaking to Shin Bet staff during a visit to a facility in southern Israel, Netanyahu stated, "First of all, [we need] to free the hostages. Of course, we will also have to solve the Gaza issue, to defeat Hamas, but I believe that we will achieve both tasks." Local media interpreted the remarks as a signal that Netanyahu is prioritizing a hostage deal above other objectives, amid growing US pressure and reported plans for sweeping regional normalization agreements involvi...