US President-elect Donald Trump has said the ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas would not have been possible without pressure from his team and incoming administration.
Speaking on the *Dan Bongino Show* on Thursday, Trump stated, “If we weren’t involved in this deal, the deal would’ve never happened. We changed the course of it, and we changed it fast, and frankly, it better be done before I take the oath of office.”
The ceasefire agreement, which includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, awaits approval from Israel’s security cabinet. The cabinet is set to meet on Friday to finalize the deal, which could take effect by Sunday, just one day before Trump’s inauguration for a second term.
Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was mentioned by Trump as a key figure in the negotiation efforts.
Trump criticized outgoing President Joe Biden, accusing him of trying to take credit for the agreement. “He didn’t do anything! If I didn’t do this, if we didn’t get involved, the hostages would never be out,” Trump said.
Biden had previously proposed a similar ceasefire plan in May 2024, but Trump dismissed its significance.
The proposed agreement includes an initial 42-day ceasefire, 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 war.
In an interview with MSNBC, Biden noted that he had not spoken to Trump recently about the ceasefire negotiations but expressed hope that the deal would hold.
Israel’s cabinet is expected to finalize discussions on the ceasefire terms by Friday.
