‘Our friends are strong, our enemies are weak’: Biden praises ceasefire deal between Israel, Hamas

The deal reached is set up in three phases. The first phase will last six weeks, Biden said, and includes a "full and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the populated areas of Gaza, and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas, including women and elderly and the wounded." Biden said that Americans will be part of the phase one hostage release.

In exchange, Israel will "release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and during phase one, the Palestinians can also return to their neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza." Humanitarian assistance will also be surged to Gaza.

In the six weeks of phase one, Israel will "negotiate the necessary arrangements to get to phase two, which is a permanent end of the war." Biden said that a number of details need to be negotiated before phase two can begin, and if these negotiations take longer than six weeks, "the ceasefire will continue as long as the negotiations continue."

In phase two, there will be an exchange for the release of the remaining hostages, "including male soldiers and all remaining Israeli forces will be withdrawn from Gaza and the temporary ceasefire will become permanent."

In the third phase, the remains of any hostages who were killed would be returned to their families "and a major reconstruction plan for Gaza will begin." Biden said that this was the ceasefire agreement he had introduced in the spring.

Biden said that since October 7, when Hamas invaded Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking over 200 people hostage, it has been a "time of real turmoil in the Middle East, but as I prepare to leave office, our friends are strong, our enemies are weak, and there’s a genuine opportunity for a new future."

Biden said that there was "no other way for this war to end than with a hostage deal," and that he was "deeply satisfied this day has finally come for the sake of the people of Israel and the families waiting in agony, and for the sake of the innocent people in Gaza, who suffered unimaginable devastation because of the war. The Palestinian people have gone through hell."

President-elect Donald Trump responded to the agreement earlier in the day, calling it "epic."

"This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies. I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones."

A reporter asked Biden who deserved credit for the agreement being reached, him or Trump, to which Biden replied, "Is that a joke?"