President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he’s the reason for the ceasefire deal that has been reached between Israel and Hamas, ending 15 months of fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Although Mr. Trump won’t take office for another five days, he quickly got ahead of the current president, issuing a statement before the Biden administration had time to confirm the deal.

President Biden is expected to make a statement about the deal later Wednesday.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump said the deal is evidence that his team is racking up victories for America even before he’s sworn in Monday.

“This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies,” the president-elect said.

“We have achieved so much even without being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House and my administration is fully confirmed so they can secure more victories for the United States,” he continued.

SEE ALSO: Ceasefire deal reached to pause bitter Israeli-Hamas fighting in Gaza, negotiators say

Mr. Trump said his national security team and his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, “will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven.”

At a press conference in Mar-a-Lago last week, Mr. Trump warned, “If those hostages aren’t back — if they’re not back by the time I get into office— all hell will break out in the Middle East and it will not be good for Hamas and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. All hell will break out. I don’t have to say any more, but that’s what it is and they should have been back a long time ago.”

He noted that parents of hostages approached him asking if he could help bring back their son or daughter. 

The hard-won agreement frees dozens of hostages as well as Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, bringing with it the first real end to violence since a weeklong truce in December 2023.

Both sides reached the deal after weeks of intense talks brokered by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt.

Neither Israel nor Hamas has confirmed the agreement.

• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.