On October 13, 2025, after more than two grueling years, all 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas were finally returned to Israel, ending a nightmare that began with the October 7, 2023 atrocities. The images of reunions at military bases and in hospital wards were raw and unforgettable, a testament to the stubborn courage of families who never stopped fighting for their loved ones.
That joy arrived hand in hand with the painful reality that the war’s cost is far from cleaned up — the remains of dozens of victims still await identification and many families remain in torment over the unaccounted‑for. Israel’s people celebrated, but soberly: these returns do not erase the brutality the hostages endured nor the lives lost because of Islamist terror.
President Donald Trump arrived in Israel the same day and was greeted by President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, then addressed the Knesset, declaring that “the war is over” and framing the moment as a new beginning. Whether you cheer his politics or not, his personal involvement and the diplomatic push that produced this agreement marked a clear break from the paralysis of previous U.S. leadership.
The releases came as part of a U.S.‑brokered ceasefire package that includes the transfer of roughly 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees back to Gaza, and the opening of humanitarian corridors for aid supplies. Critics will gasp at the tradeoffs, and rightly so — trading prisoners for hostages is wrenching, but securing the living and returning them to rehabilitation could not be deferred any longer.
Even as families celebrated, Hamas signaled it remains armed and dangerous by parading fighters and staging shows of force during the handovers, a reminder that surrender is not the same as defeat. This is precisely why America and Israel must insist on durable measures that dismantle Hamas’s capacity to terrorize, not a hollow peace that simply pauses the next attack.
For conservatives who believe in peace through strength, this moment must be a lesson: American leadership that stands unapologetically with allies and leverages decisive diplomacy can achieve what years of equivocation could not. We should honor the bravery of the hostages and the sacrifices of Israeli soldiers while demanding answers and accountability for those who enabled and celebrated these crimes.
Moving forward, policy must focus on genuine security guarantees for Israel, relentless pressure on Iran and terror networks, and comprehensive care for survivors who will bear the scars for life. Let today’s reunions renew a commitment to never forget October 7, to hold terrorists to account, and to build a peace grounded in strength, not surrender.
