Former Vice President Kamala Harris praised President Donald Trump and his administration on Tuesday for brokering the long-awaited peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. “Through diplomacy and persistence, today is an important first step toward a more hopeful future,” Harris said in a statement posted on X. “I commend the leaders and partners whose efforts made this agreement possible, including the President and his team.”
What’s The Deal?
Local Palestinians and their supporters hold a candlelight vigil and rally at Market Square on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 in Knoxville, Tenn. to commemorate of the 57th anniversary of Naksa Day. For the Palestinian people, Naksa Day represents their displacement from West Bank and Gaza Strip after the Arab-Israeli War in 1967. (We cover a lot of protests in news. I’m fascinated by the different ways people practice freedom of speech. Myself, for example, through a news organization and others through demonstrations.)
The deal, reached earlier this week, brought an end — at least temporarily — to the fighting that has devastated Gaza since Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023. Phase One of the agreement includes a partial Israeli military withdrawal, the release of hostages held in Gaza, and the freeing of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. International observers, including the United Nations and the Red Cross, are now overseeing the delicate process of recovery and exchange. The agreement marks the most significant diplomatic breakthrough in the region in more than a decade. Still, many details remain fragile — particularly around Gaza’s long-term governance. Under the plan, a temporary governing body composed of Palestinian technocrats and international experts will administer Gaza until the Palestinian Authority undergoes reforms and is able to assume control.
Harris Is Trying Her Hardest to be Bipartisan
Harris, who lost to Trump in the 2024 election, struck a careful tone in her remarks — balancing praise for progress while emphasizing how much work remains. “There is still much more to do to secure a lasting peace, ensure the safety and dignity of every innocent life, and build a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in freedom and security,” she said. The International Committee of the Red Cross said Tuesday that locating and identifying the bodies of those killed could take weeks.
Trump Is Feeling Himself
For Trump, the deal has been touted as a vindication of his “America First” approach to diplomacy, one that relies heavily on regional alliances and pressure-based negotiation. “We brought peace through strength,” the president said in a speech Monday evening, calling the ceasefire “a monumental victory for civilization.”
This May Be The Only Time That Harris and Trump Are On Board
Jan 20, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; Former Vice President Kamala Harris looks on during the inauguration of Donald Trump. Mandatory Credit: Saul Loeb-Pool via Imagn Images
Whether the agreement holds — and whether the temporary governing arrangement in Gaza can survive the political infighting to come — remains uncertain. But for one rare moment, both Trump and Harris were speaking in unison about the same fragile thing: peace.
