After the ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in talks with US President-elect Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden.
Prime Minister Netanyahu conveyed his appreciation for the support in securing the release of the hostages during the discussion. He reiterated Israel's dedication to securing the release of all hostages and praised President Trump for stressing the importance of preventing Gaza from turning into a hub for terrorism. The two leaders concurred to convene in Washington shortly to address these matters.
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening with US President-elect Donald Trump and thanked him for his assistance in advancing the release of the hostages and for helping Israel bring an end to the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families," the Israeli prime minister's office wrote in a post on X.
Meanwhile, On Wednesday, US President-elect Donald Trump praised a deal for a hostage release and ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, reached just five days before he resumes office.
"We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!" Trump said on his Truth Social network, before there was any official announcement from outgoing President Joe Biden's White House.
In another Truth Social post, Trump claimed full credit for the agreement, saying, “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November". He believes his administration's commitment to seeking peace and negotiating deals has sent a powerful signal to the world.
Ex-President Joe Biden previously declared that a ceasefire and a hostage deal have been successfully brokered between Israel and Hamas, concluding over 15 months of conflict. The agreement, organized into three phases, entails a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the release of hostages, including Americans, in the initial stage.
President Biden commented that the path to reaching the agreement has been challenging. He mentioned that in his extensive experience in foreign policy, this has been one of the most difficult negotiations he has encountered. The progress was made possible due to Israel, with backing from the United States, exerting pressure on Hamas.