In a rare moment of bipartisan acknowledgment, Democratic lawmakers are crediting President Donald Trump for brokering a landmark ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, potentially ending the devastating Gaza war that has raged for over two years. On Sunday, October 12, 2025, Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union,” where he was quick to praise Trump’s role in the agreement. "I think he should get a lot of credit. I mean, this was his deal. He worked this out. He sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner over to negotiate this, and it so far has gone well," Kelly stated, as reported by CNN and several outlets.
The deal, announced by Trump the previous Wednesday, marks the first phase of a peace plan unveiled in late September. It aims to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas and halt the fighting in Gaza, offering a glimmer of hope for a region battered by violence and humanitarian crisis. The president is set to address Israel’s Knesset at 11 a.m. local time on Monday, October 13, before traveling to Egypt to participate in a Middle East peace ceremony in Sharm el-Sheikh later that afternoon, according to Nexstar Media and multiple reports.
Senator Kelly, who has visited the region multiple times during the conflict, emphasized the significance of the agreement. "Hopefully the hostages get released here, might not be within 24 hours, but certainly, I think by Monday. And that’s progress, and now we’re going to have to see what happens next," he told CNN anchor Dana Bash. The first group of hostages—twenty believed to be alive—are expected to be released early Monday morning local time and transferred to the Red Cross, as confirmed by an Israeli government spokesperson.
The agreement, brokered by Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, also includes the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Israeli custody. Israel has pledged to withdraw troops to an agreed-upon line as the first concrete step toward what Trump described on Truth Social as a "Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace." The president’s message was clear: "This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly!"
The Gaza war, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, has killed thousands of Palestinians, devastated infrastructure, and left the territory in a dire humanitarian crisis. International pressure on Israel to end the conflict has intensified as conditions in Gaza have deteriorated, with widespread destruction and shortages of basic necessities. Senator Kelly did not shy away from painting a bleak picture: "90 percent of the homes have been destroyed. It is such a tragic situation," he said, calling on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to fulfill their commitments to help rebuild Gaza. "My hope is the Saudis, the Emiratis, they step up and they do what they said they would do, which is invest in rebuilding Gaza," Kelly added, according to State of the Union and Mediaite.
Another key provision of the deal is the daily delivery of about 600 aid trucks into Gaza—a lifeline for a population that has endured months of blockade and deprivation. Kelly noted, "It’s good to see these 600 aid trucks. That should have been happening over the last two years. You know, feed people who just are starving and struggling." The phased ceasefire and humanitarian measures are seen as critical steps toward restoring a semblance of normalcy to the battered enclave.
Democratic reactions to the agreement have ranged from open praise to carefully worded statements that avoid mentioning Trump by name. Former national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who served under President Joe Biden, echoed the sentiment of bipartisan recognition. "I give credit to President Trump. I give credit to Witkoff and Kushner and Rubio," Sullivan said on CNN, lauding the "determination and really hard work" that led to the agreement. However, he cautioned that lasting peace depends on maintaining the ceasefire and pursuing a "credible pathway to a Palestinian state."
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) also congratulated the negotiators but took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for delaying the deal. "There’s no politics about this moment," Murphy said on CBS’s "Face the Nation," as the first hostages were set to come home. He argued that the deal "has been on the table for over a year" and that Netanyahu’s "political considerations" had "frustrated the ability to find peace and to get the hostages home far before today." Murphy further criticized the Biden administration’s reluctance to pressure Israel, saying Netanyahu "is only going to move if he thinks that his relationship with the United States is at risk."
Other Democrats, such as Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), praised the progress made but omitted any reference to Trump or his team. Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) simply applauded "the American leadership that made this deal possible," reflecting the political sensitivities and divisions within the party regarding how to address the president’s achievement. The Gaza conflict has exposed deep rifts among Democrats, especially between those advocating for stronger support for Israel and progressives demanding a tougher stance against Israeli policies.
The phased agreement is structured around a 20- or 21-point plan, with significant hurdles still ahead. Bash pressed Kelly on the realism of expecting Hamas to lay down its arms, a key sticking point. "I think it’s possible, I am concerned, that they may change their minds here. They’re in a challenging spot. The Iranians, their benefactor, is not what it was even just months ago. So I think they see the writing on the wall here that things have turned not in their direction, which is a good thing. I think that allows us to get this deal. So this is the right time, you know, with the right deal but you’re right there’s twenty or twenty one points in this plan, and a lot of things have to happen to get to a lasting peace," Kelly replied.
As Air Force One departed for Israel on Sunday, President Trump prepared to greet the hostages upon their release and to address the Israeli legislature. The world now watches closely as the first steps of the peace process unfold, with hopes that this fragile truce will hold and pave the way for a more stable, peaceful future in the region. The coming days will reveal whether this unprecedented cooperation and diplomatic achievement can truly chart a new course for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
