On October 9, 2025, a dramatic and unexpected breakthrough arrived: Israel and Hamas signed phase one of a U.S.-brokered peace plan, a development that could finally bring home the remaining hostages and pause a brutal two-year war. For patriotic Americans who have watched family photos and flags return to cupboards for far too long, this is the kind of moment we prayed for — a tangible step toward saving lives and ending suffering.
President Trump has taken credit for pushing this deal across the finish line, and that is no small thing in a world where decisive American leadership is so often absent. He has promised that the remaining hostages will be released within days and announced plans to personally travel to the region as the returns begin, underscoring that strength and engagement can produce results where dithering cannot.
Let us be clear: nothing heals the raw pain of hostage families like seeing their loved ones walk through the door. Conservatives stand with those families and with Israel’s right to defend itself, and we celebrate every hostage returned as proof that standing firm, not appeasing, gets results. The emotional relief for those parents and siblings is matched by a hard political truth: America must keep backing its allies and keep pressure on terror organizations until the job is truly done.
That said, any realistic American must also be sober about the dangers. This first phase leaves open the biggest questions: who will govern Gaza, how will Hamas be disarmed, and can Israel trust guarantees from actors who have broken past deals? We cannot pretend that ceremonial signings alone neutralize an ideology that sent killers into Israeli towns on October 7, 2023; verification, demilitarization, and ironclad security arrangements are nonnegotiable.
It is beyond ironic to see the same institutions and leaders who spent years lecturing Israel suddenly rush to crown a deal without insisting on lasting security for Jewish citizens. Conservatives should applaud the achievement of negotiated releases while demanding accountability from every player — the United States included — to make sure this isn’t simply a pause that allows Hamas to regroup. Trump’s willingness to engage where others retreated is welcome, but results must be measured in safety and permanence, not press conferences.
Now is the time for Congress, the American people, and our allies to act like adults: support the return of hostages, yes, but condition any reconstruction funds, rebuilding assistance, or international security roles on verifiable disarmament, on real oversight, and on long-term guarantees for Israel’s security. We must insist that humanitarian relief does not become a blank check for the same terrorists who brought horror into Israeli homes, and we must demand that Washington hold every partner to its promises. The hard work starts now, and conservatives will be watching every step to ensure peace is not just an announcement but an American-secured reality.
