Lindsey Graham, a US Senator from South Carolina, claimed on Friday that President-elect Donald Trump wants a hostage release-ceasefire deal before his January 20 inauguration. Graham made these claims in an exclusive interview with Axios after returning from a visit to Israel, where he was quoted as adding that “Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a cease-fire that includes a hostage deal.” He wants to see it happen now.

Graham, however, remains critical of some Israeli authorities. Graham, on the other hand, took a clear stand in the interview against statements made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who contemplated the concept of “encouraging voluntary immigration” to Gaza to reduce its Palestinian population now that a Trump administration is taking office, according to the source. He later stated regarding Smotrich that “he should speak with Trump and hear what he wants.” If you haven’t spoken with him, don’t put words in his mouth.”

He also told Axios that “Israeli reoccupation” of the Gaza Strip was not the solution to dismantling Hamas, but rather implementing fundamental reforms in Palestinian society to prevent it or other hardline terrorist groups from developing. “The only ones who can do that are the Arab countries,” he said.

Graham has also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman over the last month. He highlighted that one of Trump’s primary foreign policy views would be to support Israel-Saudi rapprochement, but that such a deal would include a “Palestinian component.”