(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
There was one striking similarity between the statements released by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) about the peace deal President Donald Trump has brokered between Israel and Hamas.
See if you can spot it. First, here’s Schumer’s statement:
Finally, 732 days after Hamas’s horrific and vicious October 7th attack on Israel, and the following war in Gaza, a ceasefire and hostage agreement appears to have been reached. If implemented, finally, after two years of immense suffering, the hostages could soon be free, there could be a ceasefire, and the victims of this conflict can start to rebuild their lives. This brings a huge sigh of relief to the hostage families, to all of Israel, and to Palestinians who have suffered for so long in this horrific humanitarian catastrophe.
Now we await details and final acceptance and implementation from all parties of the first phase. And we must begin the even harder work of closing negotiations: to end the war, to start building the day after in Gaza without Hamas, to surge humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, and to build a lasting peace that ensures security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
I hope and pray that all of the hostages are released, including the deceased hostages. Let me be clear: I will never give up until all of the hostages are home, including my constituents: Omer Neutra and Itay Chen. I’ve gotten to know their families well over the last two years, and I share their desperation to bring them home for proper burial and closure.
The work is not over, but any step to end this nightmare is one that should be celebrated and carefully implemented and followed through on.
And now here’s Jeffries’s:
The peace agreement that has been reached is an extremely welcome development, freeing the remaining hostages and bringing an end to years of pain, suffering and destruction. It is my hope that phase one will be fully implemented, the hostages reunited with loved ones, sustained humanitarian relief surged into Gaza, Hamas completely disarmed and the path toward a just and lasting peace in the region firmly established. The world will be a better place with a safe and secure Israel living side by side in peace and prosperity with the Palestinian people able to achieve the dignity and self-determination they deserve. We must all recommit to achieve that outcome.
That’s right, neither statement mentioned Trump — whose administration played the starring role in brokering the agreement — or even a reference to the United States government.
Under the terms of the deal, Israel will exchange imprisoned Palestinians for the remaining hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, as well as withdraw its troops to an agreed-upon line within the Gaza Strip.
The post Guess Who Democratic Leaders’ Statements on Trump’s Peace Deal Don’t Mention first appeared on Mediaite.
