U.S. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump both claimed credit on Wednesday for a Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal that was months in the making but was helped across the line by a Trump envoy.
In announcing the ceasefire, Biden noted the final deal largely mirrored the framework of a proposal he made back in May. He smiled when a reporter asked who the history books will credit for the ceasefire and asked, “Is that a joke?”
“This plan was developed and negotiated by my team and will be largely implemented by the incoming administration. That’s why I told my team to keep the incoming administration fully informed,” Biden said in a farewell address on Wednesday night from the Oval Office.
Trump, in a social media post, was quick to claim a measure of credit for the breakthrough that came after months of stalled negotiations. He had repeatedly warned there would be “hell to pay” if a deal was not made by the time he takes office on Monday.
“This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies,” he said.
Trump had dispatched his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to join the negotiations in Doha, and Witkoff was there for the last 96 hours of talks leading up to the deal.
A senior Biden administration official, in a briefing with reporters, credited Witkoff with helping deliver the deal, working alongside Biden’s envoy, Brett McGurk, who has been in Doha since Jan. 5.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden had wanted the Trump team involved because Trump will be tasked with implementing the ceasefire deal.
“In these past few days, we have been speaking as one team,” Biden said.
Biden did not provide specifics outside the broad outlines of the deal that were already known, but suggested it could set the stage for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
“For the Palestinian people, a credible, credible pathway to a state of their own. And for the region, a future of normalization, integration of Israel and all its Arab neighbors, including Saudi Arabia,” he said.
The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, while also leading to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies. The assault has displaced the entire population of Gaza and caused a hunger crisis.
International leaders have reacted with cautious optimism to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which is set to take effect on January 19. The agreement, aimed at ending the bloodshed and allowing for a humanitarian surge in Gaza, has been hailed as an important step toward regional stability, but many leaders have emphasized the need for full implementation and lasting peace.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed strong support for the deal, underlining the U.N.’s readiness to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, who continue to face dire conditions. “It is imperative that this ceasefire removes significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid across Gaza,” Guterres said, stressing the need for major increases in lifesaving assistance.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called for calm in Gaza ahead of the ceasefire’s implementation, while Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed the deal and emphasized the urgent need for swift humanitarian aid delivery. Similarly, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the ceasefire as a crucial development for regional stability and reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Leaders from the European Union also voiced their support. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the ceasefire “a stepping stone toward lasting stability” in the region, while Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed hope that this would be a turning point, marking the end of the conflict’s devastating toll on civilians.
In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed emphasized the need for both Israel and Hamas to adhere to the commitments outlined in the ceasefire, particularly regarding the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry also welcomed the deal, urging a comprehensive resolution to the conflict and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Other nations, including South Africa and Yemen, voiced their support for Gaza’s resilience and criticized Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories. South Africa called for a just and lasting peace that ensures the protection of human rights for both Palestinians and Israelis, while Yemen’s Mohammed Abdulsalam stressed the broader security implications of Israel’s actions in the region.
In Europe, Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo welcomed the ceasefire, emphasizing relief for hostages and civilians alike, and expressing hope that it would mark the beginning of sustained peace. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, calling for an immediate surge in humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre added that both Israel and Palestine must receive credible security guarantees, stressing the importance of strengthening Palestinian institutions. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also highlighted the agreement as an essential step towards a two-state solution and a just peace, based on respect for international law.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office underscored the opportunity for substantial increases in humanitarian assistance, and reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to supporting Gaza’s reconstruction and stability, with a focus on a two-state solution for lasting peace.
The international community now awaits the full implementation of the ceasefire, with many hoping that this agreement could pave the way for a broader resolution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, leaders have been clear: while the ceasefire is an important first step, the road to lasting peace remains long and challenging.
(Reuters)