(Galilee, Israel) โย We are living in historic days! The insanity of this most recent period can look toward Iranโs nuclear arms push for a general start point, along with their strategy to arm militias to terrorize the Middle East and make strikes against Israel. The Israel Defense Forces battled Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and a host of other ayatollah-backed terrorists whose skill and organizational levels ranged from well-structured and pretty smart to ragtag and dumb as a bunch of rocks. Then came October 7, 2023. Hamas attacked in force. An over-confident Israel was caught flat-footed. The brutality and slaughter carried out by the terrorists was unprecedented, and the 251 innocent civilians taken back to Gaza as hostages ensured that Israeli anger would remain piqued and its sorrow potent.
The War
For 738 days, these men and women, both young and old, were held as bargaining chips and deployed as human shields. Israel didnโt remain quiet. They unleashed the full strength of their military to find these victims, who were their brothers and sisters, and to exact a cost from the unholy terrorists who perpetrated the heinous slaughter. The IDF attacked northern Gaza, discovering a vast array of underground tunnels that stretched for miles and miles. At first, they held the support of most countries, who understood the need for a nation to rescue its victimized civilians and ensure safety at its borders.
But then time went on and the war spread throughout Gaza. Because Hamas was embedded into the cities and neighborhoods, hiding in hospitals and tunneling from beneath schools, Israelโs actions began to feel uncomfortable for some nations. Then, when popular protests began, many simp countries from the United Nations saw an out. They, too, condemned Israel for their conduct during the war. These nations knew the truth, that no other country has ever taken so many precautions to protect civilian lives as has Israel. But they ignored proven facts in order to forward their anti-Jewish narrative. This anti-Israel wave gained momentum, until it reached tsunami levels these past couple weeks with European nations, one after the other, demanding a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine โ a solution really not wanted by Israel, and despised by the Palestinians.
But while all the western European nations, as well as those Down Under, were falling over each other to prove how anti-Israel they could be, there was one nation who didnโt cave to the peer pressure. Despite the public protests and the caterwauling by the left, the administration in Washington was determined to try to find a real solution to the situation. They worked for weeks, eventually coming alongside the Qataris, who in actuality are the very reason why the war went on as long as it did due to their support of Hamas and coddling of the terrorist groupโs leadership. Still, America and Qatar worked to forge a deal, and ultimately they did. There were other nations involved in the political wrangling, but essentially it was President Trump and the Emir of Qatar who made a peace deal happen.
The Deal
President Donald Trump presented a 20-point plan for ending the war in Gaza. If you would like the points of the plan, I would direct you to theย X link that the White House website provides. The two most essential provisions for all Israelis were found in points four and five of the plan, which called for all hostages, living and deceased, to be returned within 72 hours. In exchange, Israel would release 1950 Palestinian convicts, plus the remains of 15 deceased Gazans for every deceased Israeli. Is it imbalanced? Of course. But those of us in Israel are used to that because we love our people to a degree that is far greater than our disdain for our enemies. Hamas, on the other hand, hates Israel much more than they love their own children, which is why they keep sending them to blow themselves up in our country, celebrating their murder/suicide progeny as martyrs.
It is this hostage exchange that has been the focus of this past week. I will get to that a few paragraphs down. When the agreement was finally reached, there was great celebration in Israel. Not because it is a perfect deal. It is far from that. But it meant our hostages were coming home. And because it was President Donald Trump who was the key figure in brokering the deal, he is being lauded in Israel as a hero. This past weekend, when he flew to Israel, he was greeted with signs and banners all over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem thanking him for his efforts. After a meeting with President Isaac Herzog, during which he was given the Presidentโs Medal which is the highest civilian decoration in Israel, and a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, who gave to him a golden dove of peace, Trump went to the Knesset. When he was introduced, he received the longest standing ovation ever given in the Israeli parliament.
Netanyahu was the first to speak, and he said, โPresident Donald Trump is the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.โ Then, looking ahead, he added, โWe made the Abraham Accords, and we will do it again.โ After the prime minister was done, Trump took the podium and appeared to be as comfortable speaking there as he would have been at a campaign rally. He took time to praise Netanyahu, the IDF soldiers, and the chief of staff. Of the deal, he said, โWhen the dust settles and the smoke clears, a brighter and better future emerges.โ All in all, it was a time that will go down in the annals of the Knesset for its joy and its celebration of American-Israeli friendship.
When the presidentโs time in Israel was completed, he flew to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to join Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkeyโs President Recep Tayyip Erdoฤan for an official signing of the Gaza Peace Plan. While there, they were joined by quite a few other world leaders who were either excited about the prospect for peace, or who just couldnโt bear missing a photo opportunity they could use to fool their citizenry into thinking that they actually care.
The Backtrack
In a surprise to absolutely no one, Hamas is already trying to back out of certain elements of the deal. Sources from the New York Post, as well as members of their own organization are saying that there is no way that they will completely give up their arms or let go of control of Gaza. โWe will not be prisoners to Israeli terminology or demands. This will be a key focus in the next phase of our struggle,โ said Hazem Qassem, Hamas spokesperson, completely forgetting it was the United States who penned the 20-point plan. The fact that his organization had already signed the agreement also appears to have slipped his mind.
Other terrorist organizations around Judea and Samaria also say they wonโt abide by the ceasefire. โThe resistance factions did not agree to disarmament, and we do not accept threats to forcibly disarm,โ warned the deputy secretary-general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, sounding very much like a mouse who happened to stumble across a bullhorn.
If Hamas backs out from this deal, it will not go well for them. President Trump emphasized the necessity of follow-through, saying, โEither Hamas will disarm or we will disarm them. It will happen quickly and maybe violently, but they will be disarmed.” Prime Minister Netanyahu added, โThe conditions of the 20-point plan are very clear. Itโs not only that we get the hostages out, itโs also about disarming and demilitarizationโฆ. If the second part is not implemented peacefully, I heard President Trump say that the gates of hell will open.โ Obviously, Bibi has learned the fine art of speaking softly and carrying a big White House.
One more item that is no surprise is that the violence continues in Gaza. Now that Hamas canโt fire at the IDF anymore, they are turning their guns on their own people. If you follow my Telegram channel, you will see that Hamas is comprised of vicious people who need an outlet for their evil. Civilians are being gunned down in the streets for deeds contrary to the ruling terrorists, whether their actions are real or simply perceived. The IDF is also not at a place in which they can unload and stow their weapons. Just Tuesday, a group of three or four suspects crossed well-defined no-go lines. The IDF warned them to go back, but they still came forward. An air force attack helicopter ended their progress.
The Heroic Living
I did not want to finish this article without highlighting what is truly most important. We have our living hostages back. Twenty men who somehow survived the beatings, the starvation, and whatever other brutalities the monsters of Hamas subjected them to. While I do not fully agree with everything in the peace agreement, I am more than willing to overlook any disagreement because these men are now home. God is good. His name is to be praised. Those who came home this past weekend are (numbers reflect age when taken):
โข Matan Angrest, 20, is an IDF soldier who was taken hostage from his tank unit at Nahal Oz. He has now been reunited with his family
โข Alon Ohel, 22, is a talented pianist who arrived at the Nova festival about an hour before Hamas attacked. His family placed a yellow piano in the Hostages Plaza in Tel Aviv for people to play to help boost hope. Alon will now have the opportunity to play that piano himself
โข Omri Miran, 46, was taken captive from Kibbutz Nahal Oz and has now been reunited with his wife and young daughters whom the terrorists miraculously decided to leave at home
โข Eitan Mor, 23, was a security guard at Nova and was last seen in a large field trying to usher others to safety. He has now been reunited with his family
โข Guy Gilboa-Dilal, 22, had gone with his older brother, Gal, and friends to the Nova festival. When the attack happened, he and Gal split up in their attempt to escape. Gal got away, but Guy was taken. They are now reunited, along with the rest of the family
โข Gali Berman, 26, was taken from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a site especially hard hit. He was taken with his twin brother, Ziv, from the โyoung generationโ neighborhood in which nearly a third of the residents were slaughtered and seven were kidnapped. Gali is now home with his family
โข Ziv Berman, 26, was abducted with twin brother, Gali. For ten days, their family didnโt know if they were alive or dead. Ziv and brother, Gali, are now back home
โข Elkana Bohbot, 34, who was at the Nova Music Festival is now home with his wife and three-year-old son
โข Avinatan Or, 30, was taken with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, from Nova. Argamani was rescued from Gaza in June 2024, and Or has now reunited with her
โข Yosef-Haim Ohana, 23, was taken after delaying his escape to try to help fellow festival-goers
โข Evyatar David, 23, was taken from Nova and had been videoed just two months ago as Hamas forced him to dig his own grave
โข Rom Braslavski, 19, was working as a security guard at Nova and was able to save several people from capture before being wounded in his hands and captured
โข Segev Kalfon, 25, was fleeing Nova when he was captured and stolen away
โข Nimrod Cohen, 19, was at Nahal Oz when he was taken by terrorists to Gaza
โข Maxim Herkin, 35, decided at the last minute to go to the rave at Nova. When he was taken, he left behind his mother, preteen brother, and baby daughter, all of whom he was provider for
โข Eitan Horn, 37, was visiting his brother, Iair, at Kibbutz Nir Oz when both were kidnapped to Gaza. Iair was released in February 2025, and Eitan is now reunited with him and the rest of his family
โข Matan Zangauker, 24, was taken with his girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky, from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Ilana was released in November 2023, and Matan is now reunited with her and with his family
โข Bar Kuperstein, 22, was part of the Nova staff and stayed to take care of the injured at the festival. The last he was seen was in a video in which he was tied up on the ground. He is now home with his family
โข David Cunio, 34, was taken with his wife, Sharon, and three-year-old twin daughters, along with other family members, from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. His family was released in November 2023, and he has finally now joined them
โข Ariel Cunio, 34, is the twin brother of David and was also taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with his girlfriend Arbel Yehoud, whose brother, Dolev, was killed by the terrorists. Ariel and David were held separately throughout their confinement, but they have now been reunited, as have Ariel and Arbel, who was released in January 2025.
The Blessed Deceased
On October 13, Israel received the remains of four hostages: Bipin Joshi, 23; Guy Illouz, 26; Yossi Sharabi, 53; and Daniel Peretz, 22. Then, on Tuesday, four more bodies were delivered: Eitan Levy, 53; Tamir Nimrod, 20; and Uriel Baruch, 35. The fourth body was discovered to not be that of either a hostage or a Hamas member. I have information as to who it actually is, but that is something Iโm not yet at liberty to talk about. Finally, Inbar Hyman, 27, and Staff Sergeant Muhammad al-Atarash, 39, came home last night. I am only mentioning the names of the deceased now, because the return of our fallen is still in progress. Nineteen bodies still remain. Hamas says they cannot access the remains of the other hostages. I expect there will need to be some very clear verification of that assertion.
The world is still at war in many areas, and there are the usual crazy actions being perpetrated by a deceived population. However, I will hold that for next week. My goal today was to update you on the agreement and then give you some insight as to why we were so determined to return home these remaining hostages. They each have an uphill road ahead of them after more than two years in a brutal captivity. Use the list that I have provided to you to pray for these men and their families. Ask God to give them peace, comfort, and hope. Most of all, ask that their eyes are opened to the real truth that comes from Someone who loves them more than they can imagine.
