The sight at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv was a victory for decency and a rebuke to those who would normalize terror. Tens of thousands gathered to cheer, to cry, and to welcome home the brave men and women who were stolen from their lives by Hamas. For a nation that has endured unspeakable loss, the chants and embraces were a moment of collective relief and patriotic grace.
This morning brought the news every mother and father in Israel prayed for: the last living hostages held in Gaza were handed over after more than two years in captivity. The releases were coordinated by the Red Cross and the Israeli authorities as part of a negotiated ceasefire that finally turned a page on a brutal chapter that began on October 7, 2023. Families who camped in that square, refusing to let their loved ones be forgotten, were rewarded with the sight of sons and daughters walking free.
Make no mistake — this outcome was secured because strong, uncompromising diplomacy forced a bargain that saved lives. The United States and regional mediators pushed the deal across the finish line, and many of the families publicly credited firm American leadership for making reunion possible. If Washington stands with allies and backs them with resolve, good things happen; weakness only emboldens monsters.
The deal that brought our people home came at a price, and that price matters. Israel has agreed to release a large number of Palestinian prisoners and to coordinate returns of the deceased, a painful but necessary trade to bring the living back to their families. Conservatives should grieve the concessions while celebrating the restoration of human life; policy must now focus on ensuring those concessions do not empower terrorists to strike again.
We also must not look away from the human catastrophe in Gaza that this conflict exposed — tens of thousands killed, a devastated strip, and an enormous humanitarian crisis that will demand accountability and honest rebuilding, not soft-headed apologies. Hamas caused this ruin by choosing terror over the future of its people, and any reconstruction must be tied to the disarmament of the group that brought war to Gaza and slaughter to Israeli towns. The safety of Israel and stability in the region depend on that hard truth.
Tonight, as families sleep a little easier and a nation breathes, Americans who believe in standing with friends who fight for freedom should pledge to keep pressure on the architects of terror. Honor the returned, never forget the murdered, and insist that peace come only on terms that prevent another October 7. Support our allies, support our troops, and demand policies that protect innocent lives and punish those who celebrate kidnapping and massacre.
