Trump blasts Biden for claiming credit for ceasefire

US President-elect Donald Trump stated on Thursday that the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas would not have been achieved without pressure from him and his incoming administration.

The agreement, which involves exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, is pending approval from Israel’s security cabinet before it can be implemented. Once approved, negotiations for a permanent end to the conflict would begin.

Four days ahead of his second-term inauguration, Trump shared with the Dan Bongino Show that the deal would not have been finalized without pressure from his team, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

“If we weren’t involved in this deal, the deal would’ve never happened,” Trump remarked.

READ ALSO:Israeli Cabinet agrees on Gaza ceasefire

“We changed the course of it, and we changed it fast and frankly it better be done before I take the oath of office,” he emphasized.

Israel’s security cabinet was scheduled to meet Friday to discuss the ceasefire terms, which could take effect as early as Sunday, just ahead of Trump’s presidential inauguration on Monday.

Trump also criticized outgoing President Joe Biden for claiming credit for the ceasefire agreement, labeling him “ungracious” and asserting: “He didn’t do anything! If I didn’t do this, if we didn’t get involved, the hostages would never be out.”

Biden had proposed a ceasefire agreement last May with conditions similar to the deal now under consideration.

The proposed ceasefire would involve an initial 42-day halt in hostilities, the release of 33 hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza’s population centers.

The second phase of the agreement might lead to a “permanent end to the war,” according to Biden.

During an interview with MSNBC on Thursday, Biden stated that he had not engaged in any recent discussions with Trump regarding the ceasefire negotiations.

Crediblenewsng.com