Washington D.C. – Axios, November 23, 2024
Hostage families and deal-minded Israeli officials are now placing their hopes in President-elect Trump to succeed where President Biden has so far failed: Convincing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza in exchange for freeing the hostages held by Hamas.
The big picture: Less then two months before Trump’s inauguration, a hostage-release and ceasefire deal looks unlikely to happen anytime soon.
– Instead Trump will very likely inherit the crisis and the responsibility for the seven Americans held by Hamas, four of whom are believed to be alive.
– Trump’s incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios he will restore stricter sanctions against Iran, fight terrorism, and support Israel.
– “President Trump will serve as America’s Negotiator in Chief and work to get innocent civilians held hostage home,” she said.
