Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told America Reports what many patriots already suspected: this conflict has a clear victor and Israel stands tall while its enemies lie in tatters. Friedman’s blunt assessment — that there’s no doubt who won the war — reflects a hard truth born of battlefield reality and the collapse of Hamas’s ability to hold territory or influence. This moment didn’t happen by accident; it was brought about by decisive military action and by political pressure from leaders willing to call evil by its name.
The breakthrough announced this week is the first phase of a ceasefire framework that includes a hostage-for-prisoner exchange, an Israeli withdrawal to a limited line, and the reopening of critical crossings to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. It was a deal hammered out on the international stage with heavy U.S. involvement, and leaders on both sides are now scrambling to implement the terms amid cautious optimism. This is the kind of hard-nosed, results-oriented diplomacy Americans should applaud — not the endless, feel-good platitudes that get us nowhere.
Let us be clear: the credit belongs to strong American leadership and the courage of Israeli soldiers, not to weak-kneed international bureaucrats who tiptoe around terror. President Trump’s intervention and clear willingness to back Israel diplomatically helped secure this outcome, while the alternative approach of equivocation and appeasement would only have prolonged suffering. Conservative Americans should celebrate effective statecraft that brings hostages home and breaks the backbone of terror networks.
Meanwhile, critics on the left and the Biden White House who equivocated or rushed to lecture Israel from the sidelines were exposed for what they are: out of touch and dangerously naïve about the realities of jihadist violence. Friedman has repeatedly warned that weak rhetoric emboldens enemies and that only firm policy — not moralizing lectures — stops terror from metastasizing. If you wondered where leadership went in recent years, today’s events give a clear answer about which policies actually protect American and Israeli lives.
Make no mistake: this deal is promising, but it is not the end of our work. Key questions remain about disarmament, the precise mechanics of prisoner releases, and ensuring that aid reaches civilians rather than terror operatives — problems internationalists have habitually bungled in the past. Conservatives must insist on ironclad guarantees, vigorous verification, and a permanent U.S. commitment to Israel’s security so that yesterday’s victory doesn’t become tomorrow’s setback.
Today should remind every American what real leadership looks like: standing with allies, confronting evil directly, and demanding results instead of apologies. We should honor the brave Israelis who fought, support diplomats who delivered, and hold to account those at home who chose weakness over strength. If patriots keep pushing for clear-eyed policy and accountability, the world will be safer and our nation stronger for it.
