Trump says ceasefire 'would've never happened' without his team

US President-elect Donald Trump claimed Thursday that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which includes a hostage swap, would not have materialized without the involvement of his administration. The deal, which would see the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, still awaits approval from Israel's security cabinet before it becomes official. Following that, the terms for a permanent peace deal will be negotiated.

Trump, speaking on the Dan Bongino Show just days before his second inauguration, insisted that his administration’s pressure was crucial to bringing the agreement to fruition. “If we weren’t involved, this deal wouldn’t have happened,” he asserted, adding that his team, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, had significantly changed the course of negotiations. He also emphasized that he hoped the deal would be finalized before he took office on Monday.

Israel's security cabinet is expected to convene on Friday to review the ceasefire terms, which could go into effect as soon as Sunday, ahead of Trump’s swearing-in ceremony. Trump also criticized outgoing President Joe Biden for taking credit for the agreement, calling him "ungracious" and claiming that Biden had done nothing to bring about the deal. "If I hadn’t gotten involved, the hostages would never be released," Trump stated.

Biden had previously proposed a ceasefire plan in May with terms similar to those currently under discussion. The deal now being negotiated involves an initial 42-day ceasefire that would see 33 hostages released and Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza's population centers. A second phase could lead to a permanent resolution to the conflict.

Biden, in a separate interview on Thursday, said he had not spoken with Trump about the ceasefire negotiations in recent days.

This article was reported by journalist Jimmy.