President Trump’s Leadership and A Nation's Resolve Bring Hostages Home
“G-d Bless the Peacemaker,” screamed the front-page headline from the Jerusalem Post, with the entire cover dedicated to a picture of President Donald Trump. After more than two years in captivity, the remaining living hostages are back home, as the Israel Defense Forces pull back to the predetermined ceasefire lines in Gaza.
This victory is not just a diplomatic triumph but a testament to unwavering determination, strategic brilliance, and the indomitable spirit of the Israeli people.
This victory is not without its costs—both during the war, in blood, treasure, and international goodwill, and to end the war, in the release of murderers back to their terror masters. Two hundred fifty people with life sentences are now free to plan and commit the next October 7, and that is a cost that Israel was ready to pay for the return of the hostages—such is Israel’s true dedication to life and love.
This is not to take away from the joy that Jews around the world feel at the moment. This is truly an amazing time, brought on by the determination of the Israeli people and the moral clarity of President Trump. While for decades American presidents sought to be “honest brokers” between Israel and the Palestinians, Trump recognizes that the only language understood in the Middle East is one of strength. Trump is the president who sent bombers around the world to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities, who got the Houthis in Yemen to stop targeting American ships, and who is blowing up Venezuelan drug smugglers in international waters. When he says “or else…,” he should be taken seriously.
The hostages’ return unfolded in two poignant waves. The first group—Matan Angrest; twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman; Guy Gilboa-Dalal; Omri Miran; Eitan Mor; and Alon Ohel—crossed into Israel around 9:30 a.m. local time, accompanied by IDF and Israel Security Agency officers. Eitan Mor’s parents, Tzvika and Efrat, captured the nation’s heart with their emotional statement: “Our beloved Eitan, how long we have waited for you… Our Eitan has come back to us thanks to the commanders and soldiers of the IDF and other security forces, our heroes who went out with self-sacrifice to destroy the enemy.” They extended gratitude to the Israeli government, its people, and President Trump himself.
Hours later, the second batch of 13—Elkana Bohbot; Rom Braslavski; Nimrod Cohen; brothers David and Ariel Cuneo; Evyatar David; Maxim Herkin; Eitan Horn; Segev Kalfon; Bar Kupershtein; Yosef-Haim Ohana; Avinatan Or; and Matan Zangauker—followed suit. Handed over by Hamas to the International Committee of the Red Cross in southern Gaza, they underwent initial medical checks before being convoyed to Re’im military base. There, private rooms awaited for intimate family reunions, complete with reception kits including clothing, personal items, and a handwritten note from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara: “On behalf of the entire Israeli people, welcome back! We waited for you and embrace you.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog invoked the Book of Jeremiah: “And the children shall return to their own borders,” adding, “With thanks to G-d we welcome our loved ones home. We are waiting for everyone—every last one.” Crowds swelled outside the base, waving flags and chanting in celebration. From there, the freed individuals were airlifted to hospitals for comprehensive care, their paths to rehabilitation just beginning.
Yet, amid the joy, a shadow lingers in the delayed return of the bodies of 28 deceased hostages. While the agreement promised their return, only four were handed over initially, prompting outrage from the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum as a “blatant breach.” These remains, draped in Israeli flags, will receive honor guards and rabbinical prayers, with final identifications at Tel Aviv’s National Institute of Forensic Medicine. Most have already been declared dead based on intelligence, allowing families some closure, though the pain endures.
This breakthrough didn’t happen in isolation. It is the fruit of President Donald Trump’s visionary 20-point peace plan, a bold framework that has redefined Middle East diplomacy. Trump, arriving at Ben-Gurion International Airport to a hero’s welcome, addressed the Knesset with a standing ovation lasting over two minutes. He called it a “great and beautiful day,” inscribing in the guestbook his commitment to lasting peace. His plan, announced via Truth Social, demands Gaza become a “deradicalized, terror-free zone” that poses no threat to neighbors, with redevelopment for Palestinian benefit. Key elements include a ceasefire; a prisoner exchange—Israel releasing 1,950 Palestinian security prisoners, including 250 lifers, and 1,700 post-October 7 arrestees—and partial IDF withdrawal.
Trump’s approach builds on his first-term successes like the Abraham Accords, emphasizing economic incentives, security guarantees, and Hamas disarmament for “peaceful coexistence.” Long-term, it ensures no forced Palestinian displacement and Israeli non-annexation of Gaza. Global leaders, from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have hailed it as a pathway to sustainable peace. Trump’s unyielding pressure on mediators, combined with his “maximum pressure” strategy, forced Hamas to the table. As one analyst noted, this is “the most realistic framework for advancing Israeli-Arab peace.” His leadership has not only freed hostages but potentially reshaped the region, proving diplomacy backed by strength works.
Israel’s role in this victory cannot be overstated. For two years, the nation waged a multifaceted campaign to dismantle Hamas’s terror infrastructure. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir oversaw “Operation Returning Home,” declaring it a “significant day” in achieving war objectives. Ground operations in Gaza, supported by precision airstrikes and intelligence, weakened Hamas significantly. Soldiers risked everything, entering tunnels and urban battlegrounds to eliminate threats and gather intel on hostages.
Politically, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s steadfast leadership navigated internal divisions and international pressure. Israel maintained its right to self-defense while engaging in backchannel talks, often via Egypt and Qatar. The military’s self-sacrifice—destroying Hamas command centers, neutralizing leaders like Yahya Sinwar—and humanitarian pauses for aid built leverage for negotiations. As families like the Mors attested, it was the IDF’s heroism that paved the way for Trump’s plan to succeed.
Those who spent the last two years protesting en masse for a ceasefire or an end to a “genocide” that never took place have split into two camps. The first is complete silence, moving on to the next activist cause that eventually arises. The second is claims that Israel now has to pay reparations—or something equally ridiculous—and that this is just part of a nefarious Israeli plot to capture Gaza. Very few are actually praising the end of the war or President Trump for his part in ending it. Some are even claiming that the fight is not over until Palestine is free “from the river to the sea.”
Which means that this is a ceasefire, not a lasting peace. There are haters of Israel who would happily see this war go on from the comfort and safety of their homes in the West. They will provide aid and strength to the terrorists who have a bloodlust against Israel. This is not an end to a war, but rather a respite from war. Israel surely knows this and will do everything she can to prevent another October 7. But whether it’s a year, five years, or ten, Gaza will become a terror haven again and will lash out at Israel for merely existing. It is inevitable. Jews around the world now know how the rest of the world will react when it does.
