Joe Biden showered Donald Trump this praise this week after the POTUS’ involvement in the brokering of the peace deal between Israel and Hamas.
The humanitarian crisis on the Gaza Strip has been ongoing since October 2023, when Israel began a relentless bombardment in retaliation to the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on October 7 of the same year.
Shocking reports claim that Israel have killed or injured over 10% of Gaza’s population over the subsequent 24 months. An estimated 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in the past two years, with at least 20,000 children among the dead.
Which is why the world was given cause to rejoice earlier this week when it was announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire. Yesterday, all surviving hostages from both sides were released – the first giant step towards securing longterm peace.
As per the BBC, the ‘initial withdrawal’ as part of the agreement will leave Gaza around 55 percent occupied by Israeli forces. The second phase would then reduce that number to around 40 percent.
A final withdrawal phase will see the introduction of a ‘security buffer zone’, leaving roughly 15 percent of Gaza occupied by the Israeli military.
Love him or hate him, Trump has been an undeniable influence in the negotiations. The US president’s claim that he’s single-handedly stopped a number of wars might cause the majority of people to roll their eyes, but his involvement in foiling this particular war is beyond reproach.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in announcing the news last week.
“All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!“
Trump has been openly vying for the Nobel Peace Prize over the past few weeks, but was beaten to the honor this year by Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Perhaps the plaudits for helping to bring an end to the Gaza crisis will be enough to satisfy the 79-year-old for now, particular since among those singing his praises is none other than former president Joe Biden.
Taking to X to engage in an unlikely show of humility, Biden very much gave Trump his flowers, even if he did try and claw back some of the applause for his own administration.
“I am deeply grateful and relieved that this day has come – for the last living 20 hostages who have been through unimaginable hell and are finally reunited with their families and loved ones, and for the civilians in Gaza who have experienced immeasurable loss and will finally get the chance to rebuild their lives,” Biden wrote.
“The road to this deal was not easy. My Administration worked relentlessly to bring hostages home, get relief to Palestinian civilians, and end the war. I commend President Trump and his team for their work to get a renewed ceasefire deal over the finish line.
“Now, with the backing of the United States and the world, the Middle East is on a path to peace that I hope endures and a future for Israelis and Palestinians alike with equal measures of peace, dignity, and safety.”
Biden’s kind words came just days after Trump took aim at him again while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One.
“We had an incompetent administration. We had an incompetent president,” Trump said of his predecessor. “And because of a crooked election, millions of people are dead.
“And by the way, the Israeli thing was much harder to get settled because of the past administration.”
What do you make of Trump’s involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict? Let us know in the comments.
