Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement in response to Israeli confirmation of a hostage-release and ceasefire agreement in Gaza:

  "President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu deserve enormous and full credit for getting Israel’s hostages released and securing the ceasefire deal. It is clear that the election of Donald J. Trump, his now-imminent arrival in the White House and his declared priority for finding terms acceptable to both sides is what made this critical agreement possible.  President Trump was right, in his announcement of the deal, to evoke Reagan’s motto of Peace Through Strength. Trump’s leadership and success reminds us of Reagan’s success in getting U.S. hostages released in the run-up to Reagan’s swearing-in 1980.

  "I share the happiness of the hostages set to be released, their families and friends, and believe the ceasefire will benefit Israel and the entire Middle East. As a senior Republican member of the Foreign Affairs Committee I look forward to working with President Trump and Secretary Rubio on their mission to seek peace throughout the world on terms that will benefit America and its allies."