Report: Donald Trump interested in hostage deal before taking office

President-elect Donald Trump is interested in reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the return of the hostages before his inauguration as president and taking office on January 20. So said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham today (Saturday) in an interview with the Axios website.

"I want people in Israel and the region to know that Trump is focused on the issue of the hostages." "He wants the killing to stop and the fighting to end," said Graham. "Trump is more determined than ever to free the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal." He wants to see it happen now.

According to Graham, Trump claimed that he needs an agreement in Gaza before he can focus on the other goals of his foreign policy in the Middle East, including normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia and the establishment of a regional alliance against Iran. "I hope that President Trump and the Biden administration will work together during the transition period to secure the release of the hostages and achieve a ceasefire," he noted.