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• President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump are both claiming credit for the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
• The deal follows months of negotiations and marks a significant development in the Middle East peace process.
• The agreement will be implemented under the incoming Trump administration, with both sides acknowledging the role of U.S. diplomacy.

Quick Brief

2-Minute Digest

Essential Context

The Gaza ceasefire deal is the result of intense negotiations involving both the Biden and Trump administrations. President Biden emphasized that the deal was reached under “the precise contours” of a plan he outlined in May 2024, while President-elect Trump claimed the deal was possible due to his administration’s commitment to peace and negotiations.

Core Players

• President Joe Biden – Outgoing U.S. President
• President-elect Donald Trump – Incoming U.S. President
• Steve Witkoff – Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy
• Brett McGurk – Biden’s Middle East pointman
• Benjamin Netanyahu – Israeli Prime Minister

Key Numbers

• 15 months – Length of the conflict in Gaza
• 1,200+ – People killed in the initial Hamas attack on October 7, 2023
• 46,000+ – People killed in Gaza during the conflict
• 110,000+ – People injured in Gaza during the conflict
• $8 billion – Planned U.S. weapons sale to Israel

Full Depth

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The Catalyst

The ceasefire deal was catalyzed by the combined efforts of both the Biden and Trump administrations. Biden highlighted the “dogged and painstaking American diplomacy” involved, while Trump credited his administration’s commitment to peace and negotiations.

“This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November,” Trump stated.

Inside Forces

The negotiations involved intense diplomacy, with Biden’s administration engaging in talks since May 2024. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, joined the negotiations in recent days to ensure continuity and support for the deal under the new administration.

Biden’s team emphasized the importance of Witkoff’s participation to secure Trump’s backing for the post-conflict plan for Gaza.

Power Dynamics

The deal reflects a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation in U.S. foreign policy. Both administrations played crucial roles, with Biden’s diplomacy and Trump’s influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu contributing to the agreement.

“Both the outgoing and incoming administration deserve credit for this deal,” noted Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council.

Outside Impact

The ceasefire agreement has broader implications for the region. It follows a devastating 15-month conflict that has resulted in significant loss of life and displacement. The deal also comes amid a changed regional equation, including a ceasefire in Lebanon and the weakening of Iran.

Pro-Palestinian activists have demanded an arms embargo against Israel, but U.S. policy remains largely unchanged, with the State Department informing Congress of a planned $8 billion weapons sale to Israel.

Future Forces

The implementation of the ceasefire deal will be overseen by the Trump administration, with a focus on ensuring Gaza does not become a terrorist safe haven again. The plan for the governance, reconstruction, and security of Gaza will require significant U.S. backing over several months.

Key issues ahead include the governance and reconstruction of Gaza, as well as ensuring the deal’s long-term sustainability.

Data Points

• May 31, 2024: Biden outlines the contours of the ceasefire plan.
• October 7, 2023: Initial Hamas attack that sparked the conflict.
• 15 months: Duration of the conflict in Gaza.
• $8 billion: Planned U.S. weapons sale to Israel.
• Next week: Trump’s inauguration and the beginning of his administration’s oversight of the deal.