"This negotiation was developed and conducted under my administration, but it will mainly be implemented by the next government. Over the past few days, we have worked as one team with (President-elect Donald Trump's side)," said U.S. President Joe Biden on the 15th (local time) during an announcement that Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas had reached a ceasefire negotiation. He emphasized that the ceasefire negotiation was achieved after the efforts of the Biden administration.
However, regarding the credit for the ceasefire negotiation, incumbent U.S. President Biden and the next President Trump are at odds. Trump praised himself through his social media platform, Truth Social, saying, "The ceasefire agreement was made possible due to our historic victory last November," as the ceasefire negotiation became major news. Biden also emphasized his contribution when announcing a statement related to the ceasefire negotiation, noting, "My diplomacy has never stopped to achieve this." Additionally, when leaving after his speech, he was asked by reporters, 'Who do you think deserves more credit for the success of the ceasefire negotiation between Trump and Biden?' He turned around and smiled, responding, "Is that a joke?"
Biden's aides emphasize that this agreement was based on the framework established by the Biden administration last May and was the result of months of negotiations driven by Biden's staff. Biden also maintained ongoing communications with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
However, Trump's side claims that his election was the decisive factor in the ceasefire agreement. Trump warned on December 2 that Hamas would have to "pay a tremendous price" if they did not release the remaining hostages by his inauguration (on the 20th). According to Israeli officials, Egypt informed Israel two days ago that "Hamas is willing to negotiate for a ceasefire." The negotiations resumed from there.
Major foreign media also evaluate that Trump's election opened the door for the ceasefire agreement. The Wall Street Journal noted, "Biden has spent months on negotiations, but Trump may have pushed the limits of those negotiations," citing former and current U.S. officials who said, "The upcoming change in the U.S. administration acted as an unofficial deadline for the negotiations." The New York Times echoed this sentiment, stating, "The outlines of the ceasefire negotiation are not significantly different from what Biden proposed last May, but those who were informed about the negotiation process say that Trump's victory in the November election and the participation of members from Trump's second administration were key parts in advancing the situation."
In fact, personnel from the Biden administration and individuals set to join Trump's second administration moved in unison regarding the ceasefire negotiations. Above all, Steve Witkoff, whom Trump appointed as a Middle East envoy, was actively involved. Witkoff met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the 11th, urging him to agree to the ceasefire. Additionally, Brett H. McCurk, a Middle East negotiator from the Biden administration, also lent support.
John Bolton, who served as the National Security Advisor during Trump's first term, stated, "Nothing signals a deadline like the end of a presidential term, and if something is to be done, it has to be done now," adding, "Only God knows what will happen after the inauguration on the 20th." The Wall Street Journal reported that "Middle East analysts and even some in the Biden administration believe that the efforts of both the Democratic and Republican parties combined brought the talks to a conclusion."
Dennis Ross, who has served as a senior official on Middle East issues in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said to the Wall Street Journal, "There is a Trump effect," stating, "What influences Hamas is not his threat but his claims to end this before he became president, which affected Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, as they all have the ability to apply pressure on Hamas either individually or collectively." However, he noted, "The Biden team fundamentally deserves recognition for their role in making the transaction happen."