Trump Takes Credit for Gaza Ceasefire Deal, Citing 'Historic Victory'

Trump, in a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, expressed his excitement and claimed credit for the agreement, asserting that the deal would not have been possible without his administration's leadership.

US President-elect Donald Trump has taken credit for the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, which was announced just days before his return to power.

Trump, in a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, expressed his excitement and claimed credit for the agreement, asserting that the deal would not have been possible without his administration's leadership.

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We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!" wrote Trump, long before the statement from the White House by President Joe Biden when he leaves his office.

"We have an epic ceasefire agreement; this could happen only as the result of the Historic Victory for November," concluded Trump, recalling his victory in the 2024 elections as he followed this post.

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Trump said his administration had focused on peace negotiations and that it had a lasting impact on the region.

The agreement will be a step-by-step ceasefire, starting with Hamas releasing 33 of the approximately 100 hostages held in Gaza over the course of a 42-day period. Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, was instrumental in brokering the deal, working closely with Biden's negotiators.

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Trump thanked Witkoff, and in his words, "the United States will continue to stand with Israel and its allies to deny Gaza a repetition of the last time as a terrorist safe haven." "We will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza never again becomes a terrorist safe haven," he wrote.

The agreement is a major shift in the dynamics of the conflict. Although the Biden administration had been negotiating for months, Trump's influence and his administration's groundwork, including the Abraham Accords, seem to have opened the door for this breakthrough.

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Trump even hinted that Iran could one day join the Abraham Accords, suggesting further potential normalisation agreements in the region.

Reactions to the agreement have been varied. In Gaza, people danced in the streets, honking horns and cheering at the news. In Israel, however, some are wary, saying that until all of the hostages have been returned, they will not fully trust that the deal has been made in good faith.

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Read also| Israel and Hamas Agree to Ceasefire and Hostage Deal, Confirms Biden

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