Remaining Hostages Freed

The peace president delivers again:

These are momentous events: 738 days after the demonic October 7 terror attack, we now have some closure happening. With the remaining 20 living hostages released from the Hamas terrorists and the rest of the bodies of the dead hostages due to be released, it has been a remarkable 24 hours.

Donald Trump landed in Tel Aviv to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu. The two leaders are hated by many, but they have done so much good in seeking to draw this conflict to some sort of a close, and to see the remaining hostages freed. Joyous, exuberant celebrations in Israel have been taking place as I write this.

And rightly so. Hostage Square in Tel Aviv is now renamed Freed Square. President Trump spoke in the Knesset in Jerusalem – the fourth US President to do so. Netanyahu said this in his talk: “Donald Trump is the greatest friend of the state of Israel that we have ever had in the White House”.

He also said, “I have never seen the world moved so quickly, so resolutely, so decisively, as by our friend Donald J Trump.” He also said, “When others were weak, you were strong. When others abandoned us, you stood by our side.”

Netanyahu then said, “Mr. President, thank you for all you have done for us. I have submitted your nomination to be the first non-Israeli recipient of the Israel Prize, Israel’s highest award. As to that other prize, just a question of time. You’ll get it. But I want you to get the Israel Prize, our highest award, to our greatest friend.”

In Trump’s talk at the Knesset he said this: “The hostages are back.” And this: “This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East.” And he stated: “We give thanks to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” His hour-long speech singled out many players who were involved in this big win.

He also said this: “Those who seek to destroy this nation are doomed to bitter failure. The state of Israel is strong and it will live and thrive forever.” The satire site Babylon Bee put it this way: “Man compared frequently to Hitler gets standing ovation from Israeli parliament for peace deal.”

After that he flew to Egypt to sign the Gaza peace accords with many foreign leaders, including many key Arab leaders. “This took three thousand years to get to this point. Can you believe it?” said Trump.

Amazingly, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called Trump a “man of peace” and he said he is going to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. It was certainly an historic moment. The peace president promised and he delivered.

Democrats had to admit what an important outcome it was. Former President Bill Clinton praised Trump for the cease-fire: “President Trump and his administration, Qatar, and other regional actors deserve great credit for keeping everyone engaged until the agreement was reached.”

And even the Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer had to say this: “I commend the enormous advocacy of the tireless hostage families, President Trump, his administration, and all who helped make this moment happen.”

And his allies spoke of how remarkable Trump has been in all this. For example, General Jack Keane said this: “Like Churchill he has a dogged determination to succeed.” Amir Tsarfati put it simply: “Israel won. Hamas lost.”

As Megan Basham remarked: “It really is astonishing what this president has managed to accomplish. We have been told for years that a peace agreement like this was not possible. And yet because Trump was not willing to accept that conventional political wisdom, we are witnessing history. Just amazing.”

Wrote Australian Senator Matthew Canavan: “Congratulations to President Donald Trump and his whole team for securing the release of hostages and beginning what is the best hope for Middle East peace in a generation. I have said often that Trump was the best choice for President because he at least offered the hope for peace. Despite all the haters and losers he has delivered and deserves all the plaudits he is receiving … And he also should get the Nobel Peace Prize!”

And Australia’s Lyle Shelton said this:

Family First welcomes the release of the hostages. Israel has waged a war against forces which don’t just want to destroy the Jewish state, but all of Western Civilisation. Sadly peace has had to be wrought through strength because Hamas could have given us this day two years ago, but chose to fight – perversely using its own people as human shields. Hamas and the citizens of Gaza who joined them should never have embarked on an orgy of rape, murder and kidnapping – the worst killing of Jews since the Holocaust. Credit to President Trump for his statecraft which has led to this momentous day. May the Islamists lay down their arms and their ideology and live in peace with Israel and the rest of the world.

Of course not everyone was pleased. The leftist Jew-haters went bonkers as Trump and Netanyahu met in Israel. So too the woke right antisemites. The Trump-haters and the Israel-haters are clearly not pleased right now, even though for years they screamed ‘free Palestine’ and now Trump and Netanyahu have done that!

Indeed, the ‘ceasefire now’ crowd has been quite silent since yesterday! But of course it was never about a ceasefire for these folks – it was about their hatred of Israel and the Jews. They will still find reasons to hate on both men and to keep marching in the streets.

As one US commentator put it: “Every single person that flew a Palestinian flag, blocked freeways, and caused riots all over the United States is completely quiet today. Not one thank you. Nothing. It was all a charade. Paid antagonizers to try to make America look bad.”

Even the leftist Australian commentator Joe Hildebrand noted: “There is an uncanny sense that the people who claim to care the most about Palestine are the least happy that the bombs have stopped falling on it.”

And here is something I find so mind-boggling: There are some ‘conservatives’ and ‘Christians’ who have such an irrational hatred of Trump that they cannot and will not even now acknowledge him or thank him for helping to free the remaining hostages. Their TDS is just off the charts. If they are believers, they really need to repent of their idol of Trump-hatred.

To say this does not mean for a moment that Trump is the messiah. He is a sinner in need of Christ like everyone else. But on balance, he has done genuine good for America and the world. I am so glad he is in the White House, and not Kamala.

It is of course early days, and the release of the hostages is only the first step. Getting Hamas to lay down their arms and relinquish their iron hold over the people will be a big ask. But this has been a great start, and we all should keep the ongoing process in our prayers.

Trump promises and he delivers. He does know the art of the deal. And he has been making some very worthwhile and world-changing deals of late. Keep praying for him and for the continuing work of getting some sort of lasting peace in the Middle East.

[1223 words]