IDF Reserve Brigade. General Amir Avivi says “two things” have changed regarding the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas after fifteen months of conflict in the Middle East.

“This deal has been on the table since May last year and Hamas was completely against it. Why? There was no real pressure on Hamas,” Avivi told “Your World” on Wednesday. “Israel wanted to stop some of the humanitarian aid, especially some of the gasoline, but the government wouldn’t let us do that. So Israel doesn’t have much influence on them.”

“What has changed are two things,” Avivi told Fox News. “First, Israel has defeated Hezbollah and Hezbollah can no longer support Hamas. Furthermore, Syria has fallen. Iran is weaker. But the big change is the threat from President Trump.”

Biden hesitates when asked if Trump deserves credit for the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas: “Is this a joke?”

“When President Trump threatened them that if they don’t release hostages there will be hell… I think they understand that if they don’t get a deal now, the chances of getting a good deal for them will be very, very slim.” “If anything, they’re low.” And so they’ve made their own assessment and are inclined to do the deal because they think they’ll maximize what they can get now and not wait to see what ” “Hell” means,” Avivi explained.

IDF troops are deployed in Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip. (IDF Spokesman’s Office)

On Wednesday, John Kirby, President Biden’s White House national security communications adviser, recognized President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff as a key figure in brokering the deal.

President-elect Donald Trump warned Hamas on Jan. 7 that “all hell will break loose” if the hostages are not returned by his inauguration.

TRUMP affirms: “All hell will break loose” if hostages are not returned at the inauguration

The agreement is set to take effect on January 19, one day before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Avivi expressed uncertainty about whether the agreement between the two nations will hold, warning that Hamas may try to “use various tricks and outsmart Israel in one way or another.”

It is “just the beginning” and we have to “wait and see,” Avivi emphasized.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP