Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken is drawing criticism after suggesting that Joe Biden deserves credit for the recently negotiated Gaza peace deal — an agreement widely viewed as a major diplomatic success for President Donald Trump’s administration.

The deal, finalized earlier this month, will secure the release of all remaining hostages while allowing Israel to retain a presence inside Gaza.

Under the terms, Israeli forces will reposition to a predetermined line within the territory, creating a buffer zone designed to guarantee the disarmament of Hamas.

The agreement represents a significant shift in regional security and ends nearly two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas.

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Blinken’s comments came in a statement in which he attributed elements of the Trump administration’s deal to groundwork allegedly laid during Biden’s tenure.

“It’s good that President Trump adopted and built on the plan the Biden Administration developed after months of discussion with Arab partners, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.,” Blinken said, crediting Biden’s team for efforts that, he claimed, shaped the current framework.

However, many foreign policy observers and officials have noted sharp differences between the Biden-era approach and the plan enacted under President Trump.

The Biden-Harris administration’s proposed cease-fire, negotiated in late 2023, was widely criticized for leaving Israeli hostages in Hamas custody and for failing to secure a roadmap to permanently disarm the terrorist organization.

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That proposal also sought to limit Israel’s military actions and push for territorial concessions.

By contrast, the Trump administration rejected that framework and instead worked to secure direct commitments from regional powers.

The final agreement required Hamas to release all hostages and begin the process of disarmament while ensuring Israel would maintain control of key security zones.

Critics of Blinken’s remarks argue that the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the Middle East conflict destabilized the region and failed to hold Iran or Hezbollah accountable for supporting Hamas.

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Analysts have pointed out that during Biden’s term, Iran increased its funding for proxy militias across the region, and Hezbollah expanded operations along Israel’s northern border.

The deteriorating security situation that followed prompted urgent diplomatic intervention after Trump took office.

U.S. officials involved in the current negotiations have credited the administration’s direct engagement with Israel, Egypt, and Gulf nations for the breakthrough.

Blinken’s statement also renewed debate over U.S. policy toward Palestinian statehood.

In his remarks, he reiterated support for a two-state solution, saying a Palestinian state remains “essential” for lasting peace in the region.

The comments drew strong pushback from Israeli officials and from members of the Trump administration, who argued that the new peace framework proved otherwise.

The Trump administration’s regional strategy — which produced the Abraham Accords — established normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states without conditioning those relationships on the creation of a Palestinian state.

That approach, which prioritized regional cooperation against Iran and focused on economic partnerships, is widely seen as having reshaped Middle East diplomacy.

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Under the new Gaza peace deal, the United States and several Arab countries are expected to coordinate on enforcing disarmament provisions and overseeing humanitarian operations.

The arrangement effectively sidelines Hamas and is intended to prevent the group’s reemergence as a governing or military force.

The State Department has not issued additional clarification following Blinken’s remarks, which quickly drew attention from both U.S. and Israeli media outlets.

The Gaza agreement follows nearly two years of intermittent fighting that began after Hamas launched large-scale attacks against Israeli civilians in October 2023.

More than 250 hostages were taken during that assault. Israeli forces launched extensive counterstrikes and ground operations, eventually reducing Hamas’ strongholds across the territory.

While Blinken’s comments have reignited debate over credit and policy direction, officials familiar with the negotiations say the results of the Trump administration’s plan speak for themselves — the hostages are being returned, Hamas is being disarmed, and the path toward stability in Gaza is finally within reach.

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