WASHINGTON— On Wednesday, both U.S. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump took credit for a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement related to the conflict in Gaza. This deal, which had been in the works for several months, received additional support from an envoy associated with Trump, helping to facilitate its completion.
In announcing the ceasefire, Biden noted the final deal largely mirrored the framework of a proposal he made back in May, Reuters reported. He smiled when a reporter asked who the history books will credit for the ceasefire and asked, "Is that a joke?"
In a social media post, Trump promptly asserted that he deserved some credit for the recent breakthrough, which followed months of stalled negotiations. He had previously expressed strong concerns, stating there would be "hell to pay" if a deal wasn't reached before he assumes 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.
Reuters reported that 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 official from the Biden administration, during a briefing with reporters, acknowledged Witkoff's contributions to facilitating the deal, noting his collaboration with Biden's envoy, Brett McGurk, who has been in Doha since January 5.
The cease-fire will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, expected to last approximately six weeks, involves a complete cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas in Gaza, and the release of several hostages held by Hamas, including women, the elderly, and the wounded.
Israel has also released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, Biden said, and Palestinians "can also return to their neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza, and a surge of humanitarian assistance into Gaza will begin." The second phase of the cease-fire will begin after Israel negotiates "the necessary arrangements," which Biden said would mark "a permanent end of the war,” Fox News reported.
Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council, told the Associated Press that Biden deserves praise for continuing to push the talks despite repeated failures. But Trump’s threats to Hamas and his efforts through Witkoff to “cajole” Netanyahu deserve credit as well, he said.
“The ironic reality is that at a time of heightened partisanship even over foreign policy, the deal represents how much more powerful and influential U.S. foreign policy can be when it’s bipartisan,” he said. “Both the outgoing and incoming administration deserve credit for this deal, and it would’ve been far less likely to happen without both pushing for it.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his appreciation to both the incoming and outgoing U.S. presidents.
According to a senior U.S. official involved in the negotiations, the agreement implementation could start on Sunday, when the first group of hostages might be released.
Hugo Balta is the executive editor of the Fulcrum, and the publisher of the Latino News Network.
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