Meuser and Houlahan speak on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas

Lawmakers on both sides applauded the agreement, which comes more than a year after Hamas first killed more than a thousand Israelis in a terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, and took hundreds of lives. hostages, including some Americans.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden confirmed the deal was in place after national media broke the story. President-elect Donald Trump, whose own policy adviser, Steve Witkoff, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just before the deal was made public, also took a victory lap on social media Wednesday afternoon.

More than 45,000 people have died over the past 15 months as Israel bombed the Gaza Strip, creating a humanitarian crisis that has drawn sharp criticism. The agreement, according to Biden, will take place in two phases that include a cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of prisoners and hostages.

Rep. Dan Meuser, Republican of Pennsylvania, said Trump’s “decisive leadership” was due to the deal.

“Just as Iran released the American hostages on the day President Reagan took office, Hamas was clearly forced to act by President Trump,” he said. said the. “His strong warning that ‘all hell will break loose’ if the hostages were not released by January 20 sent an unequivocal message, bringing Hamas to the negotiating table.

“This agreement demonstrates the power of peace through strength. The world is already seeing the positive changes the Trump administration will bring, even before he takes office.”

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Penn., offered her praise to President and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, saying she was “grateful for this significant advancement. »

The breakthrough, said Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick“is a step forward… but not the end of the road.”

“This is not the time for complacency but for renewed determination,” he said. “We must continue to stand with our Israeli friends, united against the forces of terrorism. Terror will not triumph because we will not waver. And together we will bring this fight to fruition and ensure that freedom, security and peace prevail.

Democratic Senator John Fetterman, an outlier within his party for his unwavering support for Israel’s military campaign in the region, had yet to make a public statement at the time of publication. Her message pinned ondated November 7, 2023, is a video of the missing posters depicting the kidnapped Israelis.

“They will remain standing until every person has returned home safely,” he said.

Returning from a trip to the country in June, during which he met directly with Netanyahu, Fetterman said Congress should go after Hamas’ purse strings.

“Illicit finance is fanning the flames of war between Israel and Hamas” he said. “What is clearer than ever is that we have the opportunity to help Israel win this war in many ways, not only through our military and financial assistance, but also by strengthening existing regulatory tools.

From ensuring the Treasury has the necessary funds and tools to strengthening enforcement of existing sanctions, we must do more to combat terrorist financing.”