Trump demands Gaza ceasefire "now," says leading senator
US President-elect Donald Trump is committed to facilitating a resolution between Israel and Hamas, according to Senator Lindsey Graham. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The US president-elect is determined to broker a deal between Hamas and Israel, as stated by a prominent Republican senator.
US President-elect Donald Trump aims to facilitate an agreement regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham mentioned in an interview with Axios published on Friday.
Since the conflict erupted over a year ago, more than 44,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza amidst the hostilities between Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces. This escalation was prompted by a surprise attack from Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis, in addition to the group taking over 250 hostages, with approximately 100 still unaccounted for in Gaza.
“Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal. He wants to see it happening now,” Graham revealed to Axios. He had recently traveled to the Middle East for discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Graham, who regularly communicates with Trump on foreign policy and Middle Eastern matters, noted that the president-elect is eager to resolve the Gaza situation in order to refocus on other priorities, including the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as building a regional coalition against Tehran.
He expressed optimism that “Trump and the [outgoing] Biden administration will work together during the transition period to release the hostages and get a ceasefire.”
Earlier in the week, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that the organization is prepared for a ceasefire with Israel, claiming that Hamas has shown “high flexibility” and is “interested in reaching an agreement that ends the war in Gaza.” He also criticized Netanyahu for his lack of enthusiasm regarding a truce.
In response, Netanyahu stated in an interview with Israeli Channel 14 that he is “ready for a ceasefire at any time,” conditioned on the successful release of the hostages. However, he reiterated that a ceasefire would not signify an end to the campaign against Hamas.
According to AFP, Hamas has indicated to Egypt, Türkiye, and Qatar its willingness for a ceasefire and a "serious" prisoner exchange.
On November 27, Israel and the Hezbollah group agreed to a ceasefire mediated by the US and France, which took effect on Wednesday morning. Both parties have since accused each other of violating the terms of the truce.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
US President-elect Donald Trump aims to facilitate an agreement regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham mentioned in an interview with Axios published on Friday.
Since the conflict erupted over a year ago, more than 44,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza amidst the hostilities between Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces. This escalation was prompted by a surprise attack from Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis, in addition to the group taking over 250 hostages, with approximately 100 still unaccounted for in Gaza.
“Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal. He wants to see it happening now,” Graham revealed to Axios. He had recently traveled to the Middle East for discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Graham, who regularly communicates with Trump on foreign policy and Middle Eastern matters, noted that the president-elect is eager to resolve the Gaza situation in order to refocus on other priorities, including the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as building a regional coalition against Tehran.
He expressed optimism that “Trump and the [outgoing] Biden administration will work together during the transition period to release the hostages and get a ceasefire.”
Earlier in the week, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that the organization is prepared for a ceasefire with Israel, claiming that Hamas has shown “high flexibility” and is “interested in reaching an agreement that ends the war in Gaza.” He also criticized Netanyahu for his lack of enthusiasm regarding a truce.
In response, Netanyahu stated in an interview with Israeli Channel 14 that he is “ready for a ceasefire at any time,” conditioned on the successful release of the hostages. However, he reiterated that a ceasefire would not signify an end to the campaign against Hamas.
According to AFP, Hamas has indicated to Egypt, Türkiye, and Qatar its willingness for a ceasefire and a "serious" prisoner exchange.
On November 27, Israel and the Hezbollah group agreed to a ceasefire mediated by the US and France, which took effect on Wednesday morning. Both parties have since accused each other of violating the terms of the truce.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
