3 hours ago
Last Updated:January 16, 2025, 01:06 IST
Joe Biden and Donald Trump both appeared to take credit for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza that will likely end 15 months of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
US President Joe Biden speaks after negotiators reached a phased deal for a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, during remarks at the White House in Washington, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal that will end the fighting in Gaza and surge humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.
“I can announce a ceasefire and a hostage deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas," Biden said at the White House. The deal was reached after 15 months of suffering, he said, and will be followed by a surge of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
“Fighting in Gaza will stop, and soon the hostages will return home to their families," Biden said, adding that Americans are to be part of the Gaza hostage release.
In a separate statement, the White House quoted Biden as saying: “Today, after many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal. This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity."
The US President also said that his administration and US President-elect Donald Trump’s team were ‘speaking as one team’ in negotiations on the Gaza deal but both Biden and Trump appeared to claim credit for Israel and Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire deal in Gaza after the White House brought Trump’s Middle East envoy into negotiations that have dragged on for months.
Trump wasted no time in asserting he was the moving force behind the deal, whose final details were still being ironed out, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
“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," Trump wrote on social media. “I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones."
Biden also said that the three-step truce agreed between Israel and Hamas includes a “full and complete ceasefire" as part of phase one and a “permanent end to the war" in an unfinalized second phase.
“Phase One will last six weeks. It includes a full and complete cease fire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas," Biden said in a White House speech.
“During the next six weeks, Israel will negotiate the necessary arrangements to get phase two, which is a permanent end of the war," he added.
The ceasefire would take effect on January 19.
Negotiators reached a phased deal on Wednesday to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas after 15 months of bloodshed that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and inflamed West Asia.
The complex accord, which has not yet been formally announced, outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and release of hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
(with inputs from AP, AFP and Reuters)
Location :Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:January 16, 2025, 01:04 IST
News world ‘Trump And I Spoke As One’: Biden On Gaza Accord Between Israel, Hamas
