--- title: "Biden says Gaza deal based on his framework while Trump claims credit" description: "WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump both claimed credit on Wednesday for a Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal that was months in the making but was helped across the line by a Trump envoy." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "Middle East Conflict" author: "Reuters" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-16-biden-says-gaza-deal-based-on-his-framework-while-trump-claims-credit/" published: "2025-01-16T04:16:26" updated: "2025-01-16T04:16:28" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 446 --- # Biden says Gaza deal based on his framework while Trump claims credit > WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump both claimed credit on Wednesday for a Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal that was months in the making but was helped across the line by a Trump envoy. By Reuters · Published 16 January 2025, 06:16 SAST · Updated 16 January 2025, 06:16 SAST ## Key points - In a diplomatic tango that could rival any reality TV show, Biden announced a ceasefire deal that he claims is largely his brainchild, while Trump swiftly jumped in to take a victory lap, insisting his "Historic Victory" was the secret sauce behind the breakthrough—proving once again that in politics, everyone wants a slice of the pie, even if they didn’t bake it. - Biden announces a ceasefire deal, crediting his team while acknowledging Trump's involvement in negotiations. - Trump claims the ceasefire is a result of his administration's "Historic Victory" in November, emphasizing peace efforts. - The deal aims to establish a credible pathway for Palestinian statehood alongside Israel, promoting regional normalization. - Recent violence has resulted in significant casualties, with over 46,000 Palestinians reported dead amid accusations of war crimes against Israel. ## Content In announcing the ceasefire, Biden noted the final deal largely mirrored the [framework](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3HY37G&linkedFromStory=true) of a proposal he made back in May. He smiled when a reporter asked who the history books will credit for the ceasefire and asked, "Is that a joke?" "This plan was developed and negotiated by my team and will be largely implemented by the incoming administration. That's why I told my team to keep the incoming administration fully informed," Biden said in a farewell address on Wednesday night from the Oval Office. Trump, in a social media post, was quick to claim a measure of credit for the breakthrough that came after months of stalled negotiations. He had repeatedly warned there would be "hell to pay" if a deal was not made by the time he takes office on 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," he said. Trump had dispatched his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to join the negotiations in Doha, and Witkoff was there for the last 96 hours of talks leading up to the deal. A senior Biden administration official, in a briefing with reporters, credited Witkoff with helping deliver the deal, working alongside Biden's envoy, Brett McGurk, who has been in Doha since Jan. 5. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden had wanted the Trump team involved because Trump will be tasked with implementing the ceasefire deal. "In these past few days, we have been speaking as one team,” Biden said. Biden did not provide specifics outside the broad outlines of the deal that were already known, but suggested it could set the stage for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. "For the Palestinian people, a credible, credible pathway to a state of their own. And for the region, a future of normalization, integration of Israel and all its Arab neighbors, including Saudi Arabia," he said. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old [Israeli-Palestinian conflict](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3HH2CL&linkedFromStory=true) was triggered on [Oct. 7, 2023](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3LB0BB&linkedFromStory=true), when Hamas [attacked Israel](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3BD0H4&linkedFromStory=true), killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed [over 46,000](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3JH0GL&linkedFromStory=true) Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, while also leading to accusations of [genocide](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL6N3N50M7&linkedFromStory=true) and [war crimes](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL6N3NI0KQ&linkedFromStory=true) that [Israel denies](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3E151T&linkedFromStory=true). The assault has [displaced](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3O4109&linkedFromStory=true) the entire population of Gaza and caused a [hunger crisis](https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/famine-conditions-gaza/). (Reporting by Steve Holland, Doina Chiacu and Susan Heavey; Additional reporting by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Deepa Babington, Rod Nickel and Stephen Coates)