Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul addressed the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas to release the hostages and implement a ceasefire.

VIDEO of the remarks is available on YouTube here and available in TV quality (h.264. mp4) format.

AUDIO of the Governor's remarks is available here.

A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:

I'm very encouraged to see that there is news of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. This is something I've called for many, many months over the last year since the horrific, barbaric attack on innocent civilians in Israel that occurred on October 7 of last year. My main priority has been bringing home the hostages. There are still four American hostages, including one young person from New Jersey.

Our goal is to get them home back in the arms of their families who've been desperately seeking their arrival. I'm sorry that it didn't help families like the family of Omer Neutra. It's heartbreaking because I met his relatives immediately upon arriving in Israel when I went there in the aftermath of this slaughter over a year ago, and I was at his funeral. And to hear what kind of young man he was — we lost someone who really would have been an agent of change for our society, with all his interests and how he cared so much about others, even at his young age. So, our hearts continue to go out to those who were killed on that day, to those who were held captive and not returning home, but to the families that are finally going to get what they've been praying for, for this long time.

This is very good news for our country, and I hope it is fully implemented as soon as possible.