In a significant turn of events concerning the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Jon Finer, the White House deputy national security adviser, credited President Joe Biden's relentless efforts as pivotal to securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. In an interview on ABC News' "This Week," Finer noted that this breakthrough came just moments before the release of the first three Israeli hostages—a critical step as part of a broader ceasefire agreement that includes the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Finer stated, "The Israeli government made a very difficult decision... ultimately, the only way to end this war, bring the hostages home, [and] secure humanitarian relief for Gaza was some sort of exchange," as reported by ABC News. He emphasized Biden's daily engagement with national security advisers, demonstrating his commitment to the negotiations that led to this critical outcome.

Simultaneously, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, expressed his "immense gratitude" towards President-elect Trump and his team following the success of this ceasefire arrangement. Dekel-Chen acknowledged the extraordinary work of Biden's team in establishing the framework for the deal, yet he highlighted that Trump's involvement was crucial, stating, “It took a tweet and subsequent statements from President-elect Trump to get this home,” according to The Hill.

As the ceasefire officially took effect, fighting in Gaza ceased, marking the beginning of a critical pause as part of the agreement, which includes the release of 33 hostages held by Hamas. Finer also noted the "significant support" from the Trump administration in facilitating this deal, further intertwining both the outgoing and incoming administrations’ roles in this diplomatic effort.

The focus now turns to the safe return of hostages and ensuring continued dialogue to stabilize the region, with the situation in the Middle East remaining highly volatile. The hope rests on the newly formed agreement leading to a more peaceful resolution in the days to come.

For further information, you can view the full coverage by ABC News and The Hill.