Former President Joe Biden on Oct. 13 praised President Donald Trump for his effort in brokering a peace deal between Israel and Hamas, while noting his own administration’s efforts to end the war in Gaza.
“I commend President Trump and his team for their work to get a renewed ceasefire deal over the finish line,” the former president noted.
In his statement, Biden expressed deep gratitude and relief over the release of the final Israeli hostages from what he called an “unimaginable hell,” and also for the civilians in Gaza who will “finally get the chance to rebuild their lives” after the cease-fire.
“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,” he stated.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and former President Bill Clinton also lauded Trump and his administration for their role in securing the release of hostages.
Blinken shared his view on how the peace deal came about after two years of war, noting that Arab states and Turkey have had enough of Hamas, and that the terrorists eventually realized that other Iranian-backed groups—such as Hezbollah and the Houthis—would not come to their aid.
He said he believes that Israel has effectively dismantled Hamas as “an organized military force,” ensuring that the Oct. 7 attack can never happen again, and has eliminated those responsible for the attack.
“It starts with a clear and comprehensive post conflict plan for Gaza,” he stated. “It’s good that President Trump adopted and built on the plan the Biden Administration developed after months of discussion with Arab partners, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority.”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Oct. 13, Trump dismissed Blinken’s claims and said the war wouldn’t have happened if not for what he called the Biden administration’s “weak leadership.”
“This was bad policy by Biden, and by Obama,” he said. “It’s nice that they try and take a little credit. That was years ago and the mistakes were made years ago.”
“This is not only the end of a war, this is the end of an age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God,” he said. “I believe that so strongly; this is the historic dawn of a new Middle East.”
Israel and Hamas entered into a cease-fire agreement back in January, but the planned three-phase deal collapsed in March amid disagreements over its implementation.
The latest cease-fire is also set to proceed in phases. Israeli forces within the war-torn Gaza Strip are supposed to pull back toward the outer edges of the territory, eventually coming to a buffer zone inside Gaza’s perimeter.
