Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have heaped praise on Donald Trump following his intervention in securing a historic Gaza ceasefire deal. The Australian leaders credited Trump with demonstrating the US leadership needed to broker peace between Israel and Hamas after more than a year of devastating conflict.
Speaking in Brisbane on Friday, Albanese called the hostage agreement a "welcome advance" and said Trump "deserves congratulations" for his role. The Prime Minister emphasised Australia had long called for a ceasefire, hostage releases and humanitarian aid access to Gaza.
"I think President Trump deserves congratulations for the leadership the United States has shown," Albanese said. "We've always said that this will require US leadership, and that is what we have seen here."
International diplomatic recognition
Wong echoed the praise, telling Sky News that "President Trump has got this over the line" in an "extraordinary achievement" that would bring hope to Gaza's people. The Foreign Minister expressed optimism for long-term peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.
The ceasefire deal secures the release of Israeli hostages held since the October 7 massacre, with 20 hostages and the bodies of 28 others set to return home. In exchange, Palestinian prisoners will be freed as Israeli forces withdraw to agreed positions.
Trump proclaimed "everlasting peace" after clinching the agreement, telling his cabinet that "the whole world has come together for this". The Israeli cabinet formally ratified the deal in the early hours of Friday morning.
Nobel Prize speculation
Multiple countries including Israel have nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize following the breakthrough. The speculation mounted quickly after Trump brokered the agreement that Hamas negotiators said would "end permanently" the fighting that has claimed an estimated 67,000 Palestinian lives.
Trump plans to assign 200 troops stationed in the Middle East to support Israel and monitor the peace implementation. The President is expected to travel to the region on Sunday to celebrate the first phase and witness the hostage releases.
The breakthrough comes just days after the second anniversary of the October 7 massacre that triggered the conflict. Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya announced an end to the war while vowing continued work towards a Palestinian state "with Jerusalem as its capital".
Sources used: "dailymail", "The i", "dailystar.co.uk", "Metro" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
