The United States State Department on Wednesday acknowledged the critical role played by President-elect Donald Trump’s team in securing the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The deal marks a significant step toward halting the violence that has ravaged the region since October 2023.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed gratitude to Trump and his team for collaborating with the Biden administration during the negotiations. “It shows that when Americans are willing to work together across partisan lines, as we were willing to do on this occasion because it’s in the national interests of the United States, a lot can get done,” Miller stated.
“When it comes to the involvement of President-Elect Trump’s team, it has been absolutely critical in getting this deal over the line. It’s been critical because obviously, as I stand here today, this administration’s term in office will expire in five days…We, of course, thank the Trump team for working with us on this cease-fire agreement. We think it’s important that they were at the table,” he said in a press conference after the deal was announced.
The ceasefire agreement, described as a three-phase deal, has raised hopes of ending the deadliest and most destructive conflict between Israel and Hamas. Mediators confirmed that the truce will allow displaced Gazans to return to their homes, facilitate humanitarian aid and secure the release of hostages and prisoners.
The first phase of the deal, set to last six weeks, 33 hostages held by Hamas will be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. It will also allow humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza, addressing the needs of the war-torn region, where over 46,000 lives have been lost.
During this period, negotiations are expected to begin on a longer-term resolution. The second phase, considered more challenging, aims to release all remaining hostages, including Israeli soldiers, in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The third phase would focus on Gaza’s reconstruction, as the region grapples with decades of rebuilding after the devastation caused by 15 months of intense warfare.
President Joe Biden hailed the ceasefire as a testament to effective American diplomacy. “The ceasefire will hold as long as both parties stay at the negotiating table,” he said.