OPINION:
It’s been two bloody years since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, brutally killed 1,200 innocent civilians and abducted 251 Israelis to the Gaza Strip, including children, women and the elderly.
On Monday, all 20 remaining living hostages were freed by the Palestinian militant group, marking the first step in a peace deal negotiated by President Trump.
“After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today, the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Mr. Trump said in a speech at the Knesset, outlining how Israel won “all that can be won by a force of arms.”
What is the future?
“Together, we have shown that Peace is not just a hope we can dream about, it is a reality we can build upon—day by day, person by person, nation by nation,” Mr. Trump promised.
He continued: “It should now be clear to everyone throughout this region that decades of fomenting terrorism and extremism, jihadism and antisemitism have not worked — they have backfired completely and totally,” Mr. Trump warned from Israel. “From Gaza to Iran, those bitter hatreds have delivered nothing but misery, suffering and failure.”
Thanks to Israel – with America’s backing — Hamas now stands isolated and alone.
In Mr. Trump’s first term, with help from son-in-law Jared Kushner, they bet on a new era of Arab and Muslim leaders, who they gambled wanted commerce more than chaos, to export technology, not terrorism. The historic Abraham Accords were formed, normalizing diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.
Before entering his second term, Mr. Trump was already working to pressure Hamas to release all the hostages they took during President Joseph R. Biden’s term. He worked hand-in-glove with Israel, green-lighting military attacks, especially Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in June. Nine days after the initial Israeli strike, the U.S. launched its own military operation codenamed Midnight Hammer, targeting additional Iranian atomic sites.
“Donald Trump is the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday. “It isn’t even close.”
He credited Mr. Trump for his support for recognizing Israeli sovereignty, its rightful capital in Jerusalem, and for Operations Rising Lion and Midnight Hammer.
To negotiate the peace, Mr. Trump needed the help of the surrounding Arab and Muslim states, in addition to Israel’s military might. On his first major international trip since taking office for the second time, Mr. Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. He vowed to bring wealth and prosperity if their leaders could “do some trading” that didn’t involve nuclear missiles.
“Together, we have made unprecedented strides and tremendous progress and we’re still just at the dawn of the bright new day that awaits for the people of the Middle East, the great, great people of the Middle East,” Mr. Trump said in Riyadh in May. “If the responsible nations of this region seize this moment, put aside your differences and focus on the interests that unite you, then all of humanity will soon be amazed at what they will see right here in this geographic center of the world.”
Mr. Trump reminded Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that it was American forces that launched more than 1,100 strikes on the Houthis in Yemen to allow ships freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. “They were shooting at you; they were shooting at Saudi Arabia. We don’t want them shooting at Saudi Arabia if that’s OK,” Mr. Trump said.
He told the Arab leaders, since he came into office, the U.S. military terminated 83 terrorist leaders operating across Iraq, Syria and Somalia, including a top Islamic State group leader.
Mr. Trump promised Lebanon, which had been “endlessly victimized by Hezbollah and their sponsor Iran,” a more productive partnership with the U.S. if its new president and prime minister could work collaboratively with America.
Mr. Trump also dropped U.S. sanctions against Syria “in order to give them a chance at greatness,” noting he decided because of pressure from Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — another concession made to Arab leaders.
After witnessing Israel’s military strength, America’s unwavering support for the Jewish state and the promise of wealth through dealmaking, Arab leaders stepped up to the plate and cornered Hamas into a deal.
None of this was possible under Mr. Biden, whose administration enabled Iran by easing sanctions, deemed Saudi Arabia a “pariah” and worked to limit Israel’s ability on the battlefield.
To be sure, there’s a long path ahead. But let us celebrate today. Twenty beautiful souls were returned to their families after spending two years in captivity. There is dancing on the streets of Israel, where Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square” has transformed into “Freed Square.”
Never forget and never again.
It’s a new dawn in the Middle East.
• Kelly Sadler is the commentary editor at The Washington Times.
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