The New York Times reports that the painstakingly negotiated ceasefire agreement in Gaza was reached in part thanks to extraordinary cooperation between US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump.
“Both presidents have instructed their advisers to work together to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to halt the fighting (…) and release hostages held there for 15 months. The agreement is expected to enter into force on Sunday, the day before Biden delivers White House to Trump,” wrote the New York Times.
According to the daily, the presidents were united by common interests. For the outgoing Biden, the agreement means “the final justification of his actions,” which will culminate in the end of the bloodiest war in the long history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For Trump, however, the deal gives Trump more room to act at the beginning of his second term.
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“This development just five days before the takeover of power in the United States was contrary to the natural situation in Washington, where presidents from opposing parties rarely cooperate with each other during the transfer of power, even in the face of a serious crisis,” stressed the “NYT”.
Biden chose to wait for official news from Israel and Palestine. Trump, however, immediately revealed the deal in a message on social media. “This epic ceasefire agreement could only happen as a result of our historic victory in November,” the president-elect declared, referring to his success in the presidential election.
Donald Trump and Joe BidenWhite House / Zuma Press / Forum
During Wednesday's press conference, the outgoing president emphasized that both teams, Democratic and Republican, worked together on the agreement. However, when asked who should be credited with the success of the initiative, he answered by asking the journalist if he was joking.
“The initiative was successful precisely because it was common”
Even if cooperation was difficult, the very fact of its existence in times of such great polarization of American society is – in the opinion of “NYT” – something positive.
“It's really extraordinary,” Mara Rudman, who was deputy special envoy for peace in the Middle East during President Barack Obama's term, admitted in an interview with the newspaper.
“Everyone talks about who deserves recognition, but the fact is that both presidents deserve it. This initiative was successful precisely because it was common,” added Rudman, quoted by “NYT.”
The president announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement USA Joe Biden and the authorities of the key mediator state, Qatar. It would result in Hamas releasing 33 hostages over the next six weeks in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from many areas of the Gaza Strip.
Main photo source: White House / Zuma Press / Forum