President-elect Donald Trump praised the new Israel-Hamas cease-fire and hostage exchange deal that his special envoy to the Middle East pushed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept, officials say.
Trump, 78, celebrated the cease-fire agreement on Wednesday, with the incoming president taking credit for the breakthrough in negotiations that is poised to free more than a third of the 97 hostages remaining in Gaza and establish a path to end the war.
“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 wrote on Truth Social.
“I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones,” he added.
Trump, who had warned that there would be “hell to pay” if an agreement was not reached before his inauguration next week, also tapped his special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, to monitor the situation in Gaza and ensure it no longer threatens Israel again.
Officials say Witkoff, who was in Jerusalem and Doha, Qatar, was key in pressuring Netanyahu to accept the cease-fire agreement.
“[It was] the first time there has been real pressure on the Israeli side to accept a deal,” one diplomat briefed about the negotiations told the Washington Post about Witkoff’s involvement.
Witkoff met with Netanyahu on Jan. 11 to push for the cease-fire deal following a meeting with the head of the Qatari mediators, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Echoing the incoming president, Witkoff warned in early December that it would “not be a pretty day” if the hostages remained in Gaza by Jan. 20.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a plan for post-war Gaza has already been laid out and would be handed to Trump’s team to ensure a smooth transition over the volatile situation.
News of the cease-fire deal was met with celebration in both Gaza and Israel, as it lays the path to freeing 33 hostages in the first 42 days of what officials hope is lasting peace in the Palestinian territory.
The families of the seven Americans held hostage in Gaza, only three of whom are believed to still be alive, said they were thankful for the new deal after 15 months of uncertainty.
“We are deeply grateful that there is finally an agreement between Israel and Hamas to bring our loved ones,” said the families of Edan Alexander, Omer Neutra, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Keith Siegel, Itay Chen, and Gadi and Judi Haggai.
“We have been waiting for 467 days while our family members suffer from life-threatening injuries, abuse, torture, and sexual violence. We thank President Biden, President-elect Trump, and their teams for their constructive efforts to make this possible,” the group added.
With Post wires
