Biden administration officials admit Trump’s involvement was key to the Israel-Hamas cease-fire and hostage negotiations
Insiders from both the US and Israel shared that Trump’s upcoming inauguration, along with his special envoy Steve Witkoff, played a huge role in breaking the deadlock that Biden’s team struggled with. A source close to Trump mentioned that a recent chat between Witkoff and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was straightforward and to the point, no fluff involved.
According to these sources, it was Trump’s election that ultimately sealed the deal. Witkoff managed to convince Netanyahu to act quickly, which really got the ball rolling. The agreement they reached is pretty much what Biden’s team had been trying to negotiate since last May.
The first step is a 42-day cease-fire starting Sunday, during which 33 Israeli hostages will be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. It seems Trump’s strong stance was what pushed both sides to come to an agreement. A senior Biden official even praised Trump for creating a sense of urgency around the hostage release.
Witkoff was crucial in getting Netanyahu on board, and while Biden didn’t give Trump direct credit, his team acknowledged the teamwork between Witkoff and US diplomat Brett McGurk. The Biden official noted that Biden had set the tone for the talks just days before the breakthrough.
Trump had made it clear that if hostages weren’t released by the time he took office, there would be serious consequences. Incoming national security adviser Michael Waltz mentioned that Hamas believed Trump would take a tough stance, which likely influenced their decision to agree to the deal.
The Biden official also pointed out that the recent defeat of Hezbollah and the isolation of Hamas were key factors that brought everyone back to the negotiating table. For the first time, they were willing to accept a hostage list, which led to this breakthrough.
Trump’s influence also came from his strong relationship with Netanyahu, which Witkoff leveraged to get the deal accepted. His support for Israel has been unwavering, and during his presidency, he made significant moves like recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.
Experts say that while Hamas hasn’t changed its demands much, Trump was able to push Netanyahu to accept a deal that had been off the table for months. The concessions made by Israel are substantial, showing just how much pressure was applied to reach this agreement.
