The new ceasefire deal that both Biden and President-elect Trump have praised today would not have happened were it not for Trump’s main negotiator Steve Witkoff.

When asked about who the history books will credit for this, Trump or Biden, Joe asked if that were a joke:

 
Here’s what the Times of Israel wrote yesterday:

A “tense” weekend meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and incoming Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff led to a breakthrough in the hostage negotiations, with the top aide to US President-elect Donald Trump doing more to sway the premier in a single sit-down than outgoing President Joe Biden did all year, two Arab officials told The Times of Israel on Tuesday.

Witkoff has been in Doha for the past week to take part in the hostage negotiations, as mediators try to secure a deal before Trump’s January 20 inauguration. On Saturday, Witkoff flew to Israel for a meeting with Netanyahu at the premier’s Jerusalem office.

During the meeting, Witkoff urged Netanyahu to accept key compromises necessary for an agreement, the two Arab officials on Monday told The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity. Neither Witkoff nor Netanyahu’s office responded to requests for comment.

We don’t still yet know the details of exactly what Israel is giving up with this deal, but if it means they are withdrawing from the Gaza strip in any way so that Hamas can work to revitalize itself, then it’s not a good deal. Hamas cannot be allowed to exist after the horrific terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.