Exclusive: Trump wants Gaza ceasefire deal before inauguration, Graham says

• Israeli officials believe the Trump administration might take a different approach to Gaza, specifically on what the "day after" the war would look like.
• But Graham — who speaks with Trump frequently and advises him on foreign policy, especially on the Middle East — said Trump wants a deal to free the hostages and end the war as soon as possible, preferably before he takes office.

The big picture: There are still 101 hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas, including seven American citizens. Israeli intelligence services believe roughly half of them are still alive.

• More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in more than a year of war, according to the Gaza health ministry.

"Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal. He wants to see it happening now," Graham said.

• "I want people in Israel and in the region to know that Trump is focused on the hostages issue. He wants the killing to stop and the fighting to end."
• He added: "I hope President Trump and the Biden administration will work together during the transition period to release the hostages and get a ceasefire."

Driving the news: Graham spoke to Axios after returning from his a visit to the Middle East, his second this month, in which he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

• Graham contended that Trump needs a deal in Gaza before he can focus on his key foreign policy objectives in the region, like Israel-Saudi normalization and a regional alliance against Iran.

What to watch: Graham objected to proposals for an indefinite Israeli occupation of Gaza from hardliners like Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich.

• Smotrich said earlier this week that with Trump coming in, Israel has an opportunity "to encourage voluntary immigration" that will dramatically decrease the Palestinian population in Gaza.
• "I think he should talk to Trump and hear what he wants. If you haven't spoken to him, I wouldn't put words in his mouth," Graham said.
• He added that any Saudi-Israeli peace deal would have to include a Palestinian component.
• "The best insurance policy against Hamas is not an Israeli reoccupation of Gaza but a reform in the Palestinian society. The only ones who can do that are the Arab countries," Graham said.

State of play: Biden and Trump discussed the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal during their two-hour Oval Office meeting two weeks ago.

• The issue also came up during a meeting between White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Trump's incoming national security adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), and in a conversation between Biden's top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
• Biden told Netanyahu during a phone call on Tuesday that following the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, the focus should now be on reaching a deal in Gaza. Netanyahu told Biden he wants to try.

What they're saying: Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told Axios Trump was reelected because "the American people trust him to lead our country and bring stability and peace back to the Middle East."

• "When he returns to the White House, he will take the necessary action to do just that," Leavitt said.
• White House officials say Biden intends to continue pushing for a deal to release the hostages until his last day in office, even if President-elect Trump ultimately gets credit for a deal.
• Graham argued that diplomacy in the region would be easier due to Trump's win because people are afraid of him. "If you are a bad guy and you are not afraid of Trump then you are also a dumb guy. Bad and dumb guys don't last long."

What's next: A Hamas delegation will visit Cairo on Saturday to discuss new Egyptian ideas for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.