Trump says Gaza ceasefire 'would've never happened' without his team
4 Min Read
US President-elect Donald Trump emphasizes the critical role his team, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, played in finalizing the deal.
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President-elect Donald Trump talks to reporters after a meeting with Republican leadership at the Capitol on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
US President-elect Donald Trump stated on Thursday that the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between "Israel" and Hamas would not have been possible without the intervention and pressure exerted by him and his incoming administration.
The agreement, which involves the exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners, is pending approval by the Israeli occupation's security cabinet. Once ratified, it will pave the way for negotiations on the terms of a permanent resolution to the war on Gaza.
Speaking on the Dan Bongino Show just four days before his second-term inauguration, Trump emphasized the critical role his team, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, played in finalizing the deal.
"If we weren't involved in this deal, the deal would've never happened," he asserted.
"We changed the course of it, and we changed it fast, and frankly, it better be done before I take the oath of office," Trump added.
"Israel's" security cabinet is set to convene on Friday to deliberate on the agreement, which, if approved, would take effect on Sunday at the earliest—just one day prior to Trump's swearing-in.
Trump also criticized outgoing President Joe Biden for attempting to claim credit for the agreement, calling him "ungracious" and declaring, "He didn't do anything! If I didn't do this, if we didn't get involved, the hostages would never be out."
Biden had proposed a ceasefire agreement last May, featuring terms similar to those included in the current deal.
The proposed ceasefire agreement outlines an initial 42-day truce, during which 33 captives would be released, and Israeli occupation forces would withdraw from Gaza's population centers.
A second phase of the agreement could potentially establish a "permanent end to the war," Biden indicated.
In an interview for MSNBC on Thursday, Biden clarified that he had not recently engaged with Trump regarding the ceasefire negotiations.
Hamas accuses 'Israel' of stalling Gaza ceasefire implementation
However, the implementation of the newly agreed ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is facing hurdles, with senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri accusing "Israel" of attempting to stall the process.
Abu Zuhri dismissed statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office as unfounded, noting they were aimed at obstructing progress.
On Thursday, Netanyahu's office alleged that Hamas was violating parts of the ceasefire agreement and seeking additional concessions at the last minute.
The Israeli occupation announced it would withhold approval of the agreement until mediators confirmed Hamas's full compliance with all its terms.
"These statements have no basis whatsoever. They represent an Israeli attempt to slow down the implementation of the agreement," Abu Zuhri told RIA Novosti.
In light of these delays, Israeli airstrikes continued to devastate the territory, killing dozens.
Gaza's Health Ministry reported on Thursday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 72 people since the ceasefire deal was announced. Ministry officials noted that this figure included only bodies transported to two hospitals in Gaza City and warned that the actual death toll was likely higher.
"Yesterday was a bloody day, and today is bloodier," said Zaher al-Wahedi, head of the ministry's registration department.
Cautious optimism
On a related note, the Biden administration said it is optimistic about the full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement by Sunday, despite delays caused by the Israeli occupation's approval process.
In an interview for CNN, Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer addressed potential challenges in implementing the agreement, stating that complications in such deals are expected, particularly "when there is literally zero trust between the two parties to the agreement."
Finer, however, expressed confidence in the timeline laid out by mediators and stakeholders.
"We fully expect the deal to be implemented as described by the president and by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar yesterday, and on the timeline that was described," he said.
"What we're doing now is working through details of implementation."
Finer noted that the US has maintained "very close touch with the mediators" and the Israeli occupation.
Read more: Why did Trump want to secure a Gaza deal before taking office?: NYT
