Outgoing US President Joe Biden, speaking to reporters at the White House on Sunday, took credit for the ceasefire-and-terrorists-for-hostages deal, which “I outlined for the world back in May 31,” and was “endorsed overwhelmingly by folks around the world, including the U.N. Security Council.”
Biden thanked his team and “particularly Brett McGurk,” his National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, who acted as lead US negotiator on the Israel-Hamas deal, for bringing the agreement to fruition, “a result of a principled and effective policy that we presided over for months.
“The road to this deal has been not easy at all, a long road, but we’ve reached the point today because of the pressure Israel built on Hamas backed by the United States,” Biden said, adding that his policy of supporting Israel was criticized by some for risking “drawing America into a wider war in the region.
“I’ve listened to those voices, many of whom I respected a great deal. But I concluded abandoning the course I was on would not have led us to the ceasefire we’re seeing today, but instead, it would have risked the wider war in the region that so many fear,” he said.
The president said the region has been “fundamentally transformed.” He noted that Lebanon now boasts a prime minister and president who want to rule the country without Hezbollah, and the Bashar Assad regime in Syria has been removed, cutting off an important conduit of arms for Hezbollah from Iran.
He talked of an opportunity for normalization between Israel and all its Arab neighbors, including Saudi Arabia.
The president spoke minutes after the first three hostages, all women, were handed over to the Israel Defense Forces by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross inside the Gaza Strip.
The freed hostages are Romi Gonen, 24, Doron Steinbrecher, 31, and Emily Damari, 28.
“Today, we’re seeing hostages be released. Three Israeli women held against their will in the dark tunnels for 470 days. Four more women will be released in seven days, three additional hostages every seven days thereafter, including at least two American citizens in this first phase,” Biden said.
“By the 16th day of the deal, talks will begin on the second phase. This phase includes the release of Israeli soldiers and a permanent end of the war without Hamas in power,” he said.
The American leader said increased humanitarian aid would enter the Gaza Strip. “Today alone, we anticipate several hundred trucks will enter the Gaza Strip …, and after so much pain, destruction and loss of life, today, the guns in Gaza have gone silent.”
Biden has been sensitive about the suggestion that President-elect Donald Trump was instrumental in pushing the deal through. Responding to a reporter’s question on Wednesday on whether Trump would be credited in the history books with securing the ceasefire deal, Biden replied, “Is that a joke?” before walking away from the podium.