Even progressives believe Trump merits some recognition for the ceasefire
Critics of Biden's negotiation strategy with Israel argue that the agreement should have been reached much sooner.
TroibNews 
President-elect Donald Trump quickly claimed responsibility for the cease-fire reached Wednesday between Israel and Hamas, with progressive critics of the Biden administration's handling of the conflict promptly supporting his assertion.
Pro-Palestinian activists and progressives expressed that the cease-fire, which follows 15 months of conflict resulting in over 46,000 Palestinian deaths, should have been reached much earlier. They noted that Trump managed to achieve what President Joe Biden could not during more than a year of negotiations, by pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull military forces out of the Gaza Strip.
“[Trump] made clear he wanted this war to end and pressed Netanyahu on it in a way that Biden clearly wasn’t willing to do,” stated Matt Duss, executive vice president of the Center for International Policy.
While the essential components of the cease-fire remain largely the same, the circumstances surrounding it have shifted. As Biden prepares to leave office, Netanyahu may be inclined to adopt a new strategy with the incoming administration. “Trump has made clear what he wants, he has his own priorities, and I think it was clearly the unconditional support that Biden gave that provided cover for Netanyahu to continue to prosecute this war, and also that there would be no costs for ignoring either private or public criticisms from the United States," Duss, who previously worked as a foreign policy aide for Sen. Bernie Sanders, noted. "That calculus has changed.”
Nevertheless, some leaders warned that they remain doubtful the cease-fire will result in a permanent end to hostilities, or that Israel will adhere to its stipulations. According to the terms of the deal, pending approval by the Israeli Cabinet, numerous hostages will be released, and a six-week pause in fighting is set to commence on Sunday.
Biden expressed his satisfaction with the announcement, saying he was pleased to make the agreement “at long last,” and highlighted that its terms mirror an offer he made back in May. This cease-fire marks a significant achievement for Biden as he seeks to solidify his legacy during the closing days of his presidency.
In contrast, Trump, whose team engaged in the final stages of negotiations, was quick to publicize the agreement before Biden's officials made it known. While campaigning, Trump consistently asserted that his leadership would extinguish the conflict.
“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,” he posted on Truth Social.
Trump further stated that his new Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who participated in discussions leading to the agreement, would continue “to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven.”
When a reporter asked who should receive credit for the deal, the incoming or outgoing president, Biden responded: “Is that a joke?”
Some foreign policy analysts suggested that the agreement could be viewed as a political gesture from Netanyahu to Trump, aiming to gain favor before he assumes office. They were also quick to point out that the deal does not necessarily position Trump as a strong ally for the Palestinian cause, considering some of his prior Cabinet appointments and decisions, such as recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
“We see Trump really trying to show that he’s different than Biden, and that he’s playing a strong man role, and in this instance, that worked,” remarked Sandra Tamari, executive director of the Adalah Justice Project. However, Tamari cautioned that many details of the agreement, including potential concessions to the Israelis, remain unclear.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza, paired with the Biden administration's unwavering support for Israel, has generated significant political unrest for Democrats, becoming a pivotal topic in the presidential campaign. Vice President Kamala Harris faced criticism for not distancing herself adequately from Biden’s stance on Gaza, losing support among Arab Americans and college students in Michigan.
The Uncommitted movement, which organized the largest protests against Biden's position, referred to the cease-fire as “a long-overdue pause in a campaign that has obliterated families, erased neighborhoods, and caused unimaginable suffering.” They pointed to a recent YouGov poll indicating that 29 percent of non-voters who supported Biden in 2020 cited the desire to end the Gaza conflict as their primary reason for not casting a vote for Harris.
Trump capitalized on the Democratic Party's rift over Gaza, enjoying a boost in support in Dearborn, Michigan, which has a significant Muslim population with connections to the Middle East. However, Arab leaders in Dearborn emphasized that this shift did not equate to an endorsement of Trump but rather a rejection of Harris and the Democratic Party's alignment with Israel.
“Today’s announcement is welcome news to all of us that this cycle of violence will end,” stated Sam Baydoun, Wayne County Commissioner in Dearborn. He expressed his disappointment, however, that the cease-fire was akin to the proposal made in May, which the Biden administration failed to have accepted until now.
“Thousands of innocent civilians could have been spared if we had implemented this cease-fire back in May,” he remarked.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Pro-Palestinian activists and progressives expressed that the cease-fire, which follows 15 months of conflict resulting in over 46,000 Palestinian deaths, should have been reached much earlier. They noted that Trump managed to achieve what President Joe Biden could not during more than a year of negotiations, by pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull military forces out of the Gaza Strip.
“[Trump] made clear he wanted this war to end and pressed Netanyahu on it in a way that Biden clearly wasn’t willing to do,” stated Matt Duss, executive vice president of the Center for International Policy.
While the essential components of the cease-fire remain largely the same, the circumstances surrounding it have shifted. As Biden prepares to leave office, Netanyahu may be inclined to adopt a new strategy with the incoming administration. “Trump has made clear what he wants, he has his own priorities, and I think it was clearly the unconditional support that Biden gave that provided cover for Netanyahu to continue to prosecute this war, and also that there would be no costs for ignoring either private or public criticisms from the United States," Duss, who previously worked as a foreign policy aide for Sen. Bernie Sanders, noted. "That calculus has changed.”
Nevertheless, some leaders warned that they remain doubtful the cease-fire will result in a permanent end to hostilities, or that Israel will adhere to its stipulations. According to the terms of the deal, pending approval by the Israeli Cabinet, numerous hostages will be released, and a six-week pause in fighting is set to commence on Sunday.
Biden expressed his satisfaction with the announcement, saying he was pleased to make the agreement “at long last,” and highlighted that its terms mirror an offer he made back in May. This cease-fire marks a significant achievement for Biden as he seeks to solidify his legacy during the closing days of his presidency.
In contrast, Trump, whose team engaged in the final stages of negotiations, was quick to publicize the agreement before Biden's officials made it known. While campaigning, Trump consistently asserted that his leadership would extinguish the conflict.
“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,” he posted on Truth Social.
Trump further stated that his new Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who participated in discussions leading to the agreement, would continue “to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven.”
When a reporter asked who should receive credit for the deal, the incoming or outgoing president, Biden responded: “Is that a joke?”
Some foreign policy analysts suggested that the agreement could be viewed as a political gesture from Netanyahu to Trump, aiming to gain favor before he assumes office. They were also quick to point out that the deal does not necessarily position Trump as a strong ally for the Palestinian cause, considering some of his prior Cabinet appointments and decisions, such as recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
“We see Trump really trying to show that he’s different than Biden, and that he’s playing a strong man role, and in this instance, that worked,” remarked Sandra Tamari, executive director of the Adalah Justice Project. However, Tamari cautioned that many details of the agreement, including potential concessions to the Israelis, remain unclear.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza, paired with the Biden administration's unwavering support for Israel, has generated significant political unrest for Democrats, becoming a pivotal topic in the presidential campaign. Vice President Kamala Harris faced criticism for not distancing herself adequately from Biden’s stance on Gaza, losing support among Arab Americans and college students in Michigan.
The Uncommitted movement, which organized the largest protests against Biden's position, referred to the cease-fire as “a long-overdue pause in a campaign that has obliterated families, erased neighborhoods, and caused unimaginable suffering.” They pointed to a recent YouGov poll indicating that 29 percent of non-voters who supported Biden in 2020 cited the desire to end the Gaza conflict as their primary reason for not casting a vote for Harris.
Trump capitalized on the Democratic Party's rift over Gaza, enjoying a boost in support in Dearborn, Michigan, which has a significant Muslim population with connections to the Middle East. However, Arab leaders in Dearborn emphasized that this shift did not equate to an endorsement of Trump but rather a rejection of Harris and the Democratic Party's alignment with Israel.
“Today’s announcement is welcome news to all of us that this cycle of violence will end,” stated Sam Baydoun, Wayne County Commissioner in Dearborn. He expressed his disappointment, however, that the cease-fire was akin to the proposal made in May, which the Biden administration failed to have accepted until now.
“Thousands of innocent civilians could have been spared if we had implemented this cease-fire back in May,” he remarked.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
