Netanyahu called Trump before Biden to offer thanks for assistance with Gaza hostage deal

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu first called President-elect Donald Trump to thank him for his help in securing the hostage release and ceasefire agreement in Gaza. 

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening with US President-elect Donald Trump and thanked him for his assistance in advancing the release of the hostages and for helping Israel bring an end to the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families,” a statement relayed from Netanyahu’s office. 

“The Prime Minister made it clear that he is committed to returning all of the hostages however he can, and commended the US President-elect for his remarks that the US would work with Israel to ensure that Gaza will never be a haven for terrorism.” 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening with US President-elect Donald Trump and thanked him for his assistance in advancing the release of the hostages and for helping Israel bring an end to the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families. pic.twitter.com/nSkK6Emfk8

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 15, 2025

The phone call came before an official statement by Netanyahu confirming the ceasefire deal and after a post on Trump’s Truth social media platform, in which the President-elect took credit for the deal. 

“This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November,” Trump wrote Wednesday evening on Truth, “We have achieved so much without even 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!” 

Another Trump post about the agreement actually came out minutes before the official announcement from Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani. 

“We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth. “They will be released shortly. Thank you!” 

Only after contacting Trump, did Netanyahu call President Joe Biden to thank him for his help in achieving the ceasefire deal. 

“Prime Minister Netanyahu then spoke with US President Joe Biden and thanked him as well for his assistance in advancing the hostages deal,” the official statement from Netanyahu’s office said. 

While both presidents are likely to take credit for the deal, they also both appear to recognize that the burden of ensuring the ceasefire agreement is successful will fall to the Trump administration. 

President Biden said, “This plan was developed and negotiated by my team, and it will be largely implemented by the incoming administration.” 

In a statement after the deal was announced, State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller also acknowledged the Trump team’s assistance in achieving the deal. 

“When it comes to the involvement of President-elect Trump's team, it has been absolutely critical in getting this deal over the line. It's been critical because obviously, as I stand here today, this administration's term in office will expire in five days...We, of course, thank the Trump team for working with us on this cease-fire agreement. We think it's important that they were at the table,” Miller said in a press conference after the deal was announced.