Ceasefire Achieved Due to My Team: Trump

US President-elect Donald Trump asserted Thursday that the ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages between Israel and Hamas would have never come to fruition without the involvement of him and his incoming administration. The deal, which includes a swap of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, still requires approval from Israel’s security cabinet before it can take effect, after which talks for a permanent resolution to the conflict are expected to begin.

Just days before his second presidential inauguration, Trump appeared on the Dan Bongino Show, emphasizing his administration’s pivotal role in bringing about the agreement. He credited his team, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, with applying critical pressure to ensure its success.
“If we weren't involved in this deal, it wouldn’t have happened,” Trump stated. “We shifted the course of it swiftly. Frankly, it better be finalized before I take the oath of office.”
Israel's security cabinet is scheduled to meet Friday to review the terms of the ceasefire, which could take effect as early as Sunday—just one day before Trump's inauguration.
Trump also criticized outgoing President Joe Biden for taking credit for the deal, calling him “ungracious” and accusing him of not contributing to the breakthrough. “He didn’t do anything! If I hadn’t gotten involved, the hostages would never have been released,” Trump declared.
Biden had proposed a ceasefire agreement last May with terms similar to those of the current deal. The ceasefire agreement under discussion would include an initial 42-day truce, the release of 33 hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza's population centers.
The second phase of the deal could lead to a permanent end to the conflict, according to Biden. In an MSNBC interview Thursday, Biden confirmed that he had not discussed the negotiations with Trump recently.