WASHINGTON

Hours after a Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange deal came into effect, US President Joe Biden described it as “one of the toughest negotiations” he has been part of while emphasizing that the Middle East has been "fundamentally transformed."

“This is one of the toughest negotiations I have been a part of ... The road to this deal has not been easy at all, and it's a long road,” Biden said during a news conference. “But we've reached this point today because of the pressure Israel built on Hamas, backed by the United States.”

The ceasefire follows Israel's months-long war on Gaza, which began after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack that killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 250 hostages being taken.

Since then, nearly 47,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war since then, according to local health authorities.

Under the terms of the agreement, aid trucks have also begun entering Gaza to provide relief to civilians affected by the war.

“Today, the guns in Gaza have gone silent,” Biden said. “Hundreds of trucks are entering Gaza as I speak, carrying assistance for civilians who suffered enormously from the war that Hamas started.”

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas handed over three Israeli captives to the Red Cross on Sunday under the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

Four more women are expected to be freed within seven days, with additional hostages — including at least two Americans — to be released in subsequent phases, Biden said.

“The hostages appear to be in good health,” he said. “They may have already crossed the border from Gaza into Israel.”

Biden says region 'fundamentally transformed'

The president underscored what he called the “fundamental" transformation of the Middle East following Israel's brutal war.

“Now the region has been fundamentally transformed. Hamas’ longtime leader Sinwar is dead. Hamas sponsors in the Middle East have been badly weakened by Israel, backed by the United States. Hezbollah, one of Hamas’ biggest backers, was significantly weakened on the battlefield, and its leadership was destroyed,” Biden said.

Addressing critics of his policy of unwavering support for Israel, the US president defended his approach, claiming that it was crucial for achieving the ceasefire.

“Some said my policy of firm support for Israel ... risked drawing America into a wider war in the region,” he said. “I listened to those voices, many of whom I respected a great deal, but I concluded that abandoning the course I was on would not have led us to the ceasefire we’re seeing today.”

Call for lasting peace

Reflecting on the war’s toll, Biden called for renewed efforts toward lasting peace in the region.

“As we reflect on the news from Gaza today, we also remember all the victims of this war,” he said. “The pursuit of a lasting peace, while never easy or quick, must always be our calling.”

The president noted that the next administration would bear the responsibility of implementing the agreement, signaling the continued importance of US involvement in the region.

“Now falls the next administration to help implement this deal,” he remarked.