Credit to all for Gaza ceasefire, but strength of Trump key

After so much horror and suffering, it is wonderful that hope for release of the hostages and respite from the carnage in Gaza seems to be within grasp (“Hamas accepts draft deal for Gaza Strip ceasefire and hostage release”, 16/1).

Not so wonderful is the jostling for who should be given credit for this development.

There is something ugly and cavalier when the bringing of relief from the terror, abuse and destruction endured by the hostages and the people of Gaza becomes a one-upmanship or contest between an outgoing and incoming US presidents.

Deborah Morrison, Malvern East, Vic

History will show the final capitulation by Hamas to cease its reign of terror and commence the release of hostages was brought about by the pressure applied by Israel not only on Hamas but also on Hezbollah and Iran.

This was achieved in spite of continued exhortations by the United Nations, supported by Australia, for Israel to “show restraint”, for premature ceasefire and the formation of a Palestinian state, all of which emboldened Hamas to continue its inhumane treatment of the hostages.

The bold command by Donald Trump for the release of all hostages was the final straw for Hamas and represents true leadership.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

Hamas is gloating but what did it really accomplish? The return of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails measured against the destruction of much of Gaza and the death of thousands of Palestinian terrorists and civilians.

George Fishman, Vaucluse, NSW

Two phrases have become synonymous with Donald Trump: “fight, fight, fight” and “hell to pay”.

They embody his statements that when the chips are down, you get back up, and, as Israel’s best friend, Trump is a friend indeed.

As the 45th president, he notched up an impressive hat-trick: moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, brokering the Abraham Accords between Israel and Arab countries, and pulling the US out of the Iran nuclear deal.

On the hostage deal that has been stalled since last May, Joe Biden stumbled over his lines. Biden claimed he had spoken with the “emir of Kuwait”, referred to his National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, as “secretary”, and said that “Hezbollah”, not Hamas, had carried out the October 7 terrorist atrocities. A hat-trick of sorts, you could say.

Nonetheless, while Biden has been dithering, president-elect Donald Trump, not yet inaugurated, is again hitting the ground delivering results.

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW

The world is breathing a collective sigh of relief as a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, brokered by both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration, has brought this seemingly intractable conflict to some promise of a cessation of hostilities.

But the fact that the ceasefire is scheduled to commence on January 19, which is just a day before Donald Trump is sworn in as the next US president, indicates his impending presidency is already having a significant impact upon the world stage.

Such strong US leadership in the world is clearly being seen as highly indispensable to bringing these warring sides together not only in the Middle East but also in Ukraine.

This raises the most pressing question for 2025: Could the current breakthrough of the war in Gaza help draw the US, Russia and China together into having closer co-operation under a Trump administration to avert us possibly heading towards World War III?

Vincent Zankin, Rivett, ACT

Why any of the peace-loving Palestinians couldn’t resolve the issue of the Hamas terrorists living among them still shows that they may be in support of this brutal regime.

No enduring peace will ever occur until these fundamentalists are totally removed from any positions of power.

The centuries of historical unrest in the Middle East doesn’t augur well for any permanent cessation of hostilities between the two opposing religious beliefs. There is no doubt a whole generation of affected and orphaned children will rise up again in the endless cycle of violence.

Eldert Hoebee, Torrens Park, SA