I don’t care how bad your Trump Derangement Syndrome might be, you have to give the man credit for orchestrating a deal that released the 20 living Israeli hostages from the grips of Hamas on Monday.
On Monday, the world witnessed a rare, human moment amid a long, bitter conflict. Families embraced their loved ones. Streets in Tel Aviv filled with relief and quiet celebration. For two years, these hostages had been a grim reminder of a conflict defined by loss — today, diplomacy claimed a victory.
President Trump’s envoys, namely Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Steve Witkopf and Jared Kusner engaged regional partners, coordinated with Israel, and pressed for terms that all sides could accept. While the details of the back-channel negotiations remain largely undisclosed, multiple outlets have confirmed that the ceasefire arrangement aligns closely with the “Gaza peace plan” Trump outlined earlier this month. The plan’s first phase — the exchange of hostages for prisoners and a pause in fighting — became reality Monday.
Hostage negotiations test the limits of leadership. They demand pragmatism, patience, and the willingness to engage with adversaries without endorsing aggression. Trump’s approach — combining public advocacy with behind-the-scenes diplomacy — mirrors strategies he has used in past foreign policy efforts. The remarkable element in this case is not spectacle, but outcome: coordination across rival factions and regional powers produced a tangible result. By utilizing Arab countries like Egypt and Quatar, along with Turkey, Trump’s envoy was able to put enough pressure on Hamas to accept the agreement.
The humanitarian dimension cannot be overstated. For families of the hostages, relief is immediate and profound. Years of uncertainty, fear, and grief have been replaced with reunion, gratitude, and the chance to rebuild lives interrupted by violence. These human stories are often lost in the headlines, yet they remain the clearest measure of success in any diplomatic effort. Saving lives, restoring families, and providing hope are the tangible consequences of negotiation and patience.
I for one, was overcome with joy when I first heard the hostages were going to be released. That joy continued all week long as I watched the families reunite. I now pray that deceased hostages that haven’t been returned will be brought to their families in short order.
That said, the achievement is fragile. Ceasefires in this region rarely last. Israel remains on guard against Hamas, and over 1,700 Palestinian prisoners were exchanged for 20 hostages — a trade that may provoke domestic criticism and complicate future negotiations. The agreement’s durability depends on ongoing compliance, trust among mediators, and the ability to enforce terms in a highly volatile environment. Success in diplomacy is rarely clean or perfect; it is measured in lives saved, in the willingness to create pathways where none existed before, and in the temporary reprieve from violence that allows hope to flourish.
It is also worth remembering that this outcome reflects the efforts of many actors: Israeli negotiators, Arab intermediaries, humanitarian organizations, and yes, the Trump team. The story of Monday’s release is less about credit and more about the power of sustained dialogue in a conflict too often defined by confrontation. Leadership, in this case, was less about headlines and more about the patient work required to bring parties to the table and convince them that compromise, however imperfect, could save lives.
That’s not easy to do. Hamas has held these hostages for over 2 years, thinking they would be the ultimate bargaining chip to remain in control of Gaza. They final relinquished when Trump’s deal forced Israel to return 1700 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages.
You could say this is a victory for everyone. Now phase 2 of Trump’s peace plan demands Hamas give up control of Gaza. Will see if this happens, but in the meantime we should all celebrate the region is enjoying peace for the first time in a long time.
