**Hopes Pinned on Trump for Hostage Release and Gaza Ceasefire**

Families of hostages and Israeli officials eager for a resolution are now looking to President-elect Trump to succeed where President Biden has so far been unsuccessful: convincing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the conflict in Gaza in return for freeing the hostages held by Hamas.

In the broader context, with Trump's inauguration just under two months away, reaching a deal to release the hostages and secure a ceasefire seems a distant prospect. The urgency of the situation was underscored when Israeli President Isaac Herzog called to congratulate Trump on his election win, emphasizing the critical need to free the 101 hostages, according to sources familiar with their conversation.

During a White House meeting on November 11, Herzog also implored President Biden to collaborate with Trump on the issue before Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2021, as revealed by an insider with knowledge of the discussions.

This scenario echoes a historical precedent involving Ronald Reagan, a president whom Trump has expressed admiration for. In a similar situation, as Reagan was poised to take office in 1981, then-President Jimmy Carter finalized a hostage agreement with Iran on January 19, leading to the release of 52 American hostages the very next day after Reagan was inaugurated.

However, the negotiations pertaining to a ceasefire and hostage release between Israel and Hamas have remained stagnant for over three months. Some Israeli officials believe that Trump, who has advocated for a swift end to the Gaza conflict, might possess greater influence and leverage over Netanyahu than Biden does.

In a recent two-hour meeting, President Biden urged President-elect Trump to join forces to facilitate a ceasefire and secure the hostage release. Biden aims to leverage his remaining time in office to break the prolonged deadlock, while Trump might prefer to resolve the crisis before his inauguration.

President Biden is also scheduled to meet with the families of the seven American hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. This meeting highlights Biden's continued efforts to achieve a breakthrough in the stalled negotiations, a topic expected to be raised during his meeting with Trump.