Media: Trump determined to secure Gaza peace and free hostages before inauguration
President-elect Donald Trump is eager to see a ceasefire and a hostage deal in Gaza before he assumes office on January 20, according to Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Although securing a deal in Gaza is one of President Biden's top priorities in his final months, the lack of significant progress in recent weeks suggests that the task may be left for Trump to handle.
Israeli officials believe that Trump's administration might adopt a different approach to Gaza, particularly when it comes to post-war planning. However, Graham, who frequently advises Trump on foreign policy, especially concerning the Middle East, said in an interview with US media that Trump is determined to free the hostages and end the conflict as soon as possible, ideally before he takes office, per Caliber.Az.
As of now, Hamas is holding 101 hostages in Gaza, including seven American citizens, and Israeli intelligence believes roughly half of them are still alive. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 44,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing conflict.
"Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal. He wants to see it happening now," Graham said. "I want people in Israel and in the region to know that Trump is focused on the hostages issue. He wants the killing to stop and the fighting to end." Graham also expressed hope that Trump and the Biden administration would collaborate during the transition period to secure the release of the hostages and achieve a ceasefire.
Graham spoke to Axios after his second visit to the Middle East this month, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Graham argued that Trump needs to secure a deal in Gaza before he can focus on other foreign policy goals, such as normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia and forming a regional alliance against Iran.
Graham opposed proposals for an indefinite Israeli occupation of Gaza from hardliners like Israeli Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, who suggested that with Trump coming in, Israel could encourage "voluntary immigration" to reduce Gaza's Palestinian population. "I think he should talk to Trump and hear what he wants," Graham said. "If you haven't spoken to him, I wouldn't put words in his mouth."
Graham added that any Saudi-Israeli peace deal should include a Palestinian component, stating, "The best insurance policy against Hamas is not an Israeli reoccupation of Gaza but a reform in Palestinian society. The only ones who can do that are the Arab countries."
Biden and Trump discussed the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal during a two-hour meeting in the Oval Office two weeks ago. Additionally, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Trump's incoming national security adviser Rep. Mike Waltz, as well as Biden's Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, have also been involved in talks. Following a ceasefire in Lebanon, Biden spoke with Netanyahu, urging that efforts focus on reaching a deal in Gaza.
Trump's spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, told Axios that the American people re-elected Trump because they trusted him to bring stability and peace to the Middle East. "When he returns to the White House, he will take the necessary action to do just that," Leavitt said.
White House officials have said that Biden will continue working towards a deal for the release of the hostages until his last day in office, even if Trump ultimately gets credit for brokering the deal. Graham believes that diplomacy in the region will be more effective with Trump in power, noting, "If you are a bad guy and you are not afraid of Trump, then you are also a dumb guy. Bad and dumb guys don't last long."
By Tamilla Hasanova