January 15, 2025

"WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!"

Writes Trump, just now, at Truth Social.

ADDED: Here's what the NYT is saying now: "Negotiators from Israel and Hamas have agreed to a cease-fire in Gaza, though the start date is unclear, according to a senior official from one of the mediating countries and two senior Israeli officials.... There are also still technical details that need to be worked out. Two other officials said there was last-minute wrangling over the Egypt-Gaza border, which is currently controlled by Israeli forces.... President-elect Donald J. Trump also announced that a hostage deal had been reached, writing on social media that 'THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY.' Mr. Trump had threatened severe consequences unless Israel and Hamas reached an agreement before his Jan. 20 inauguration, which some officials credited with helping the negotiations to advance. If implemented, the cease-fire would allow for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel, after more than a year of devastating war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed much of the enclave. Neither Israel nor Hamas has publicly endorsed the agreement, but the Palestinian group said on Tuesday that the negotiations had entered their 'final stages'...."

AND: Another Truth Social post from Trump: "This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies. I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones. With this deal in place, my National Security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven. We will continue promoting PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH throughout the region, as we build upon the momentum of this ceasefire to further expand the Historic Abraham Accords. This is only the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed, the World! We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my Administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States!"

136 comments:

Iman said...

Release all of the hostages - live or dead - immediately! Hamass doesn’t negotiate from a position of strength, they’ve been decimated.

Now or face more justice!

Goldenpause said...

If Harris had won, a deal would not even be on the horizon. Hamas knows that elections have consequences.

Reddington said...

The headlines write themselves:

Trump more effective than Reagan: hostages released before he was even inaugurated. Biden bigger failure that Carter, again.

RideSpaceMountain said...

If the deal is what I heard previously that the exchange of 30 Israeli hostages (alive or dead) is for 1000 hamass terrorists, then such a deal should be roundly rejected out of hand. That was an absolute garbage proposal (if that's the deal...) and it defies belief that the Israelis would agree to it.

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

Why not let Biden make the announcement? It’s not like Trump negotiated the deal. Right? I mean, I don’t know. The media don’t report anything important going on.

Jupiter said...

If the IDF rounds up 50 guys on a street in Gaza, strips them to their underwear, and drags them off in trucks to rape them in prisons in Israel, they aren't called "hostages". They're called "terrorists". True fact!

Left Bank of the Charles said...

“We” meaning Biden and Trump.

RideSpaceMountain said...

Because Trump's victory is clearly the catalyst, as Goldenpause alludes above, "If Harris had won, a deal would not even be on the horizon."

Yancey Ward said...

And if all of the hostages are now declared by Hamas to be dead?

rehajm said...

I find it all a bit unsavory. I suspect the hostages disagree..

Michael Fitzgerald said...

It's SOP there. Israelis return 700 Muslim terrorists for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers.

Skeptical Voter said...

Apparently Hamas is choosing not to FAFO. Add some "incoming" Trump and the troops duck for cover.

Michael Fitzgerald said...

Sure, Jan. The Muslims are the Good Guys...like Democrat Party members are in America.

RCOCEAN II said...

The problem with all these "deals" is that Israel never keeps their side of the bargain and the USA doesn't nothing about it. Jimmy Carter spent his whole Post-Presidency trying to get Israel to live up its agreement of 1979. No dice.

Israel is currently breaking its deal in Lebanon by refusing to withdraw troops. And of course, it has a nasty habit of assassinating any Arab/Iranian leader who opposes them, so the person "Signing the deal" just put a big bullseye on the themselves. Not the way to reach agreements.

RCOCEAN II said...

Anyway, I hope Trump is right. Now, do Ukraine/Russia.

Peachy said...

The hostages who are still alive.
F the left and F Biden.

DINKY DAU 45 said...

Right WE have a deal who is in the presidency spot now and has been working on this all along? Kind of like the Reagan Carter trick SEE thru as a cellophane bag,,,Lets see how fast trump fux it up

Jaq said...

Biden kept the killing going for as long as he possibly could. Biden gave Israel plenty of bombs to use for the purpose. But sure, Biden's heart was in the right place all along!

Robert Cook said...

"Face justice?" Israel will never face justice.

rehajm said...

They know Trump isn’t beholden to the DC PR firm that was hired on Palestinian behalf but, just like The Hillary Global Initiative IOUs, people didn’t pay for nothing so the vig will continue to run while they wait out Trump…

Jaq said...

Why didn't Biden stop this before? Israel couldn't have done it without all of the American bombs we gave them. Biden kept the killing going on as long as he could. How delusional you people are not to see Joe Biden as the blood soaked villain that he actually is. Gaza was a war that did not need to happen, now the US's reputation has been dragged through the mud, Ukraine was a war that didn't need to happen, but Biden wanted it. Now more than half the world looks at the US as the villain in the piece. This is Joe Biden's doing, but now that the jig is up for him, and he can no longer continue the killing, you want to give him credit for being stopped.

Freder Frederson said...

as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies.

So how does "all hell will break out" square with this statement. Being batshit crazy and contradicting yourself within a just over a week, may work for a little while, but eventually people will tire of it.

RideSpaceMountain said...

I really wish the USA's SOP was to stop worrying about that region's colossally ass-backwards and goat-fucked SOP by not giving anyone in that region any more weapons or money. Our SOP should be to let that region glass itself and move on with our lives.

Iman said...

All remaining Hamass leadership (are there any?) should get the Trotsky Treatment.

Freder Frederson said...

And Trump threatened that all hell will break out if the hostages are not released (and of course this deal, if it doesn't collapse like all the rest, does not release all the hostages) by inauguration day. Do you really think that means that Trump was contemplating limiting arms shipments to Israel.

Iman said...

Feck Biden.

RideSpaceMountain said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
RideSpaceMountain said...

From Ankara to Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi, Algiers, and Tel Aviv, there are no "good guys" in that region.

RideSpaceMountain said...

Fredo still doesn't understand "stray voltage".

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

Freder confuses consecutive with concurrent.

Josephbleau said...

This is a Jedi mind trick. Hamas is now at the end of their rope, either they will be exposed as lying frauds, or they will integrate into a new peaceful order.

Hamas expects to gain two things, guns and money. They expect to be re supplied thru the Egypt Gaza border and given billions for rebuilding their tunnels, they always want more tunnels. Israel can retain a strip on the Gaza side to prevent this, or if that is given up, they can just wait for 5 to 10 years for Hamas to start another war. Either way the world gets a break for a while.

Jaq said...

Time will tell, but one thing is certain, Biden didn't give a rip about the killing.

Kay said...

Well that’s good news!

Kay said...

Very true.

Kay said...

Hamas had agreed to a deal in the very beginning of all this but biden prolonged their unnecessary suffering.

Dude1394 said...

Get them home, start to eliminate the Palestinian cause through the Abraham accords ( which the anti semitic democrats squandered ) and then squash them. Hamas does something else they will go hegsmith on their ass. Israel had lost this round anyway because of Biden and the democrats siding with terrorists. Take a step back and regroup.

Jersey Fled said...

Boy. Our Lefty friends are out in force on this one.

Must have touched a nerve.

Freder Frederson said...

And if Trump turns out not to give a rip about the killing either, will you criticize him as voraciously as you have Biden? I bet there will be crickets.

RCOCEAN II said...

BTW, most of the "American" hostages are dual citizens, many of whom left the USA 20-30 years ago to live in Israel, or are "anchor babies" who were serving in the IDF. Sorry, since our American elite wants to hand out citizenships like free candy or a box of cracker jacks, don't expect me to get all worked up about "Americans" being put at risk.

Paul said...

Like Regan and Jimmy Carter's Iranian hostages.. all Trump had to do what threaten them with a 'when I get there'.... and the folded like a cheap suit.

Biden had zero to do with this....

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

Did Biden agree to a secret payoff on some future date?

wendybar said...

Yet, him Kamala and Blinken are on TV taking full credit.

Rusty said...

Freder confuses a lot of stuff. He's confused a lot.

Iman said...

Antony Blinken claimed this morning that the Hamass forces that were killed during the last 15 months have been replaced by new recruits. I certainly hope that’s the usual bullschiff from him.

Rusty said...

They hate Jews.

Drago said...

Field Marshall Freder's spittle-flecked apoplectic rage at the mere thought of a deal is really quite something to behold.

Iman said...

Don’t be such a hater, Fredo.

Iman said...

“Hey! I can handle things! I'm smart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart and I want respect!"

—— Fredo

narciso said...

https://x.com/MarinaMedvin/status/1879598370236285091

narciso said...

And who many fighters will be let loose as with the shailt release

Aggie said...

Tell us again how many of those declared 'off-limits & neutral' hospitals, schools, and mosques have been discovered with tunnels under them, chock full of weapons? Oh, that's right: All of them.

Drago said...

The New Soviet Democratical - islamic supremacist alliance is fully locked in.

Rocco said...

Iman said...
“Antony Blinken claimed this morning that the Hamass forces that were killed during the last 15 months have been replaced by new recruits.”

I take it they haven’t been issued the company pager yet.

victoria said...

Here we go, taking credit for things he helped with, but did not directly affect. 4 years of this trash is almost too much to bear. A man of the people? Ha. A man of his buddies. and maybe the rest of us. No savior, no panacea.

Iman said...

No dice, toots.

Jonathan Burack said...

This ends nothing. None of us really knows what the real intentions are of the Islamist movements, Iran, Israel, or Trump. Either this really is Trump just wanting a "win" to tout, which is trivial, or he understands that this ceasefire is an illustory diversion the inevitable collapse of which will justify him in what he truly intends, a green-lighting of Israel against Hamas, Iran, etc. (See Hegseth's terrific and concise statement about Hamas.) The other possibility is Israel needs a respite, a chance to rearm, etc., and it knows Hamas is already a powerless shell and can be allowed to taste this pyric victory. I really don't know.

What I do believe is that Israelis suffer a very serious and terrible price for making the hostages such a central focus of their diplomacy and war fighting. How many Israelis have died for those hostages? How many more will die from the monsters Israel will now release? Israel needs to confront this horribly false and self-defeating humanitarianism

wendybar said...

You are correct. We can't wait for 5 more days until he leaves. He didn't do squat. He's been too busy on vacation. Enjoy the new fundamental transformation that begins in 5 days Vicki!! America WILL be great again!

narciso said...

This is a terrible deal maybe we can revisit it after

RMc said...

Cook always manages to strike the absolute worst possible note.

Breezy said...

Looks like a hiccup - Hamas changed the maps wo informing others? Lucy!!

RideSpaceMountain said...

"This ends nothing."

That should be the motto, slogan, and epitaph for the entire Middle East.

Seeking the Truth said...

Wars do not “end.” They are lost when one side begs for mercy. Only after all hell breaks loose can there be peace. Bad deal.

Indigo Red said...

Hamas' rearming begins now.

Kakistocracy said...

Whether it’s Ronald Reagan conspiring with Iranian Ayatollahs to delay the hostage release until after Carter’s defeat or Donald Trump conspiring with Netanyahu to delay a ceasefire agreement until after Biden’s defeat, Republican presidential candidates….

RideSpaceMountain said...

Yep, dual Citizenship needs to end, for everyone. Philosophically, ethically and politically dual citizenship is a retarded concept for everyone except the person who has it. Worse, the fact that there are some voters willing to vote for serving members of another country's armed forces as representatives in OUR legislature and that our government and constitution allow this is mind-boggling.

There is zero ethical justification that can be made for an actively serving member of a foreign military to be involved in the law-making functions of a totally different nation.

David53 said...

“We” meaning Biden and Trump.

“We” meaning Biden and Hitler.

Corrected for the leftists. What a crazy thing for Hitler to do.

Earnest Prole said...

Is Trump thanking Joe Biden or Hamas?

mezzrow said...

I'll believe it when I see the hostages freed. Not before.

What happens if Hamas pulls another Hamas at this juncture? Stay tuned.

Kakistocracy said...

Or Nixon conspiring with south Vietnam…

narciso said...

https://x.com/hpmcd1/status/1879572250594353299

Laughing Fox said...

Yes. Wars end when the aggressor (Hamas in this case) completely surrenders, gives up the cause and forswears war. Blinken said that "new recruits" to Hamas have replaced the old regulars who have been killed. The new recruits are of course young men whose whole education was anti-semitism and the religious duty to destroy Israel. (America is also on their list, as a country in which Muslims are treated equally, instead of being the rulers.) So this agreement, if it really comes off, is just a stage in the continuing war.

Jaq said...

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-01-13/ty-article/.premium/trumps-mideast-envoy-forced-netanyahu-to-accept-a-gaza-plan-he-repeatedly-rejected/00000194-615c-d4d0-a1f4-fbfdce850000

It was Trump. I told you guys a few days ago that Trump had taken the gloves off with Israel when he posted severe criticism of Israel on Truth Social.

Jaq said...

LOL. According to the press in Israel, Trump forced Bibi's hand, see my post above, Biden could have done it at any time.

Jaq said...

Last Friday evening, Steven Witkoff, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, called from Qatar to tell Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aides that he would be coming to Israel the following afternoon. The aides politely explained that was in the middle of the Sabbath but that the prime minister... - Haaretz

Long story short, Bibi. was told in "salty terms" to be there, and he showed up to meet with Trump's envoy, and Bibi agreed to Trump's terms, which he had been rejecting for six months.

Here is the link I gave you guys last week which, if you had looked at it, would have given you a heads up on this.

https://theduran.com/will-trump-deliver-peace-jeffrey-sachs-alexander-mercouris-glenn-diesen/

Jaq said...

Ha, Vicky. You are such a loyal tool of that corrupt warmonger who is in his final days.

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-01-13/ty-article/.premium/trumps-mideast-envoy-forced-netanyahu-to-accept-a-gaza-plan-he-repeatedly-rejected/00000194-615c-d4d0-a1f4-fbfdce850000

Drago said...

Just calling "balls and strikes" again, eh self-declared "middle of the roader"?

Drago said...

LLR-democratical Rich: "Whether it’s Ronald Reagan conspiring with Iranian Ayatollahs to delay the hostage release until after Carter’s defeat...."

Oh, so you're back pushing that obvious lie again are you?

Poor li'l Rich. Go ahead Rich, tell us all how, and this is a key part of the lunatic conspiracy theory our resident moron LLR-democratical Rich has been pushing and re-pushing (he tends to do that alot), HW Bush was able to commandeer an SR-71, have it flown to an outlying airfield near Paris where HW supposedly cut the deal with the Ayatollah's reps!

LOL

I. Kid. You. Not.

Rich literally believes that. Literally.

Drago said...

victoria, all Joe is doing these days is fondly reminiscing about his long showers with his adolescent daughter......which is why your party threw him overboard after you couldn't hide his dementia any longer.

Too funny. victoria thinks joey bag-o-donuts had something to do with this!

Drago said...

I would be careful about putting too much stock in whatever Haaretz is pushing as a story.

narciso said...

https://x.com/MarinaMedvin/status/1879632347961970913 really terrible

Leland said...

I'm seeing Biden do a lot of things in the final moments of his Presidency. Here's the thing. Biden had 4 years to do any or all of these things. In the case of these hostages, they've been held since October 7th, 2023. Nothing Biden did resulted in their freedom for 15 months. Trump is right. It was his win in November that brought home the stark reality to the remaining holdouts of Hamas that they will no longer enjoy the US hampering Israel in the destruction of Hamas. Trump could also force Netanyahu's hand, because Bibi had lost the support of practically everyone else but Trump.

If you want to give Biden credit; you have to do better than simply claim it. You won't, because you don't have any tangible credit to give Biden.

Drago said...

You kind of have to feel bad about how pathetic LLR-democratical Rich has become since his Harry-Sisson-like performance for over 2 years leading up to the election set him up for another "collapse" of a lifetime.

This announcement comes right after Jack Smith was able to drop his one-side Adam-Schiff-level-"honest" "report" which showed even Jack knew his completely corrupted DOJ/FBI team, in a corrupt pool of DC hack leftist judges, with near 100% total lunatic New Soviet Democratical "juries" would not be enough to deliver on a lie-filled prosecution of Trump for "insurrection"!

LOL

Tough week for the New Soviet Democraticals all around. And its not going to get any better any time soon. Better hunk down.

RideSpaceMountain said...

Someone throwing a last minute cog in this last minute deal would shock no one.

Ambrose said...

It’s like he is already President. This has been a remarkable transition.

Ambrose said...

It’s like he is already President. This has been a remarkable transition.

Jaq said...

It isn't just Haaretz.

Paul said...

Just wait till Netanyahu chimes in on it.. he will tell the world who did what.

Ice Nine said...

Biden will get the next Nobel Peace Prize for this. Watch for it. Even though Trump will soon bring the Ukraine/Russia War to an end, the NPP is Biden's for this pittance - the Norwegian Nobel Committee will not, of course, even give Trump a glance.

RideSpaceMountain said...

He's thanking Steve Witkoff. Witkoff is the guy who looks nothing like Andrew Blinken standing next to Benjamin Netanyahu in this recently released photo.

Kakistocracy said...

Having mastered submarine engineering, Russian military history, and large language models, Drago would like to give you a careful estimate of how many gin and tonics one can safely drink before noon...

Yancey Ward said...

For good or ill, this is Trump's work, not Biden's.

Drago said...

It's rather obvious, isn't it, when LLR-demcratical Rich, who declared the kamala campaign the most perfect campaign of all time, haa completely run out of rhetorical ammunition and he is far, much too far down Exposed Boulevard, to try and attempt a 'hey, I am just a reasonable and principled Lifelong republican that doesn't like Trump'..."reset.

Tsk tsk tsk

Now Abacus Boy is stuck in No Man's Land...which is odd since he cannot define what a "man" is.

paminwi said...

Yes! Tell me that Trump’s comment “there will be hell to pay” made Hamas think do this now or we are goners.
And Biden’s weak stance is still evident here. Israel has to release now many murderers to get back some live and some dead hostages in a NOT 1 for 1 deal. I wish Israel could do the same-send some of these guys back in coffins.

Robert Cook said...

"Cook always manages to strike the absolute worst possible note."

Well...the truth hurts.

paminwi said...

No one with a thinking brain would think that Trump will hold back any arms to Israel.

paminwi said...

Please, Israel,doesn’t keep their side of the bargain?
It was Hamas who broke the ceasefire on October 7th. Hamas really doesn’t care how many of their side die. The men all have 72 virgins waiting for them and they never gave a shit about the women anyway. All they are good for is to give birth and make food and turn over their children in one way or another to the sick Hamas members. And the leaders are still rich as shit sitting in fancy hotels somewhere. When you are as evil as Hamas me,bets are I just don’t get the tears shed over them.

paminwi said...

Yes.

paminwi said...

Exactly.

JK Brown said...

Maybe fake news, but I heard that Israel had promised a free pager to all the Palestinian convicts being traded for hostages held by Hamas.

Jim at said...

So how does "all hell will break out" square with this statement. Being batshit crazy and contradicting yourself within a just over a week, may work for a little while, but eventually people will tire of it.

Do you want the hostages released or not? If not, say so. Otherwise, shut up.

FullMoon said...

Secretary being interviewed on MSNBC has one of her dreadlocks that caught in her eyelash and as she speaks for several minutes every time she blinks and pulls that drug lock down hurry amusing. Definitely going to be some internet memes on that.

Jaq said...

I am sure you think so, it explains why you ignore it so scrupulously. I mean carefully choose your news sources so that you won't hear anything that might upset your feelings of superiority to us lot.

Jaq said...

'No one with a thinking brain would think that Trump will hold back any arms to Israel."

Apparently Bibi did.

Jaq said...

He would have ended the conflict in Korea with a final peace deal, but John Bolton killed it. This is why the deep state hates presidents like Trump, you know what happened to JFK who tried to make peace with the Soviets, and Nixon, who ended the Viet Nam war and tried to make peace with China. The attempted assassination by incompetent security failed, but I am worried for Trump.

Kakistocracy said...

Is the three gin and tonic breakfast the new three martini lunch? When Drago is on a bender there is no contender.

Iman said...

Fredo is wish-casting, and he says a “Hail Gaia” before every wish.

Iman said...

KAK!!!

Kakistocracy said...

Is three gin and tonics at breakfast too many or too few? Yes.

Kakistocracy said...

Depends on whether you drank it from a glass or poured it over your Corn Flakes.

Iman said...

“Arab officials: Trump envoy swayed
Netanyahu more in one meeting than
Biden did all year.”

RideSpaceMountain said...

...tried to make peace with the soviets and forced the American Zionist Council to register as a foreign funded agent of Israel in 1962. The AZC lives on though as AIPAC.

Old and slow said...

Robert Cook: I have always enjoyed your contributions. You seem to have become embittered and less detached in your commentary. It is a loss. Do better.

Ice Nine said...

>Jaq said...
The attempted assassination by incompetent security failed, but I am worried for Trump.<

Yes, of course. For his entire term they will not stop trying to eliminate Trump. The next five days in particular are extremely dangerous for him.

Mr. T. said...

Baghdad Bob Cook is rocket firing his mouth off again...

Drago said...

It seems like only yesterday LLR-democratical Rich would regale us with his deep, deep (wink wink) "thoughts" in long rambling posts filled with non-sequitors and deflections for his dems...but over time, after his inane comments were repeatedly run over by reality he has now devolved into the Inga Talking Point Pit where all he has left is accusations of mental illness and drinking which he deploys verbatim on thread after thread after thread.

In the end, all the Althouse blog lecties end up in the same place.

narciso said...

https://m.jpost.com/israel-news/article-837704

Skeptical Voter said...

Slow Joe thinks he managed this deal all by his little own self.

Mason G said...

To be fair, Joe thinks he's the president.

Jimmy said...

This isn't the end of things. But it is hopefully a start to begin to un ravel the mess that that part of the world has been.
the deal that was made, has pissed off both sides, which seems to be the way Trump makes deals.
Bibi isn't happy, trading thousands of terrorists for living and dead hostages. They did a similar deal years ago, and vowed to never do it again.
Hamas is a hollow shell now. And yes, UN schools and money will make sure the next generation of kids will be terrorists too.
What the solution to this mess will be, or won't be, is years, or decades away.
But my gut tells me that the Palestinians are going to become Jordanian, or Egyptian- and that palestine will never be a country of its own. They never were. they were used by the arabs, and tossed away. Now, no one wants them.
biden wanted to bring many of them here. trump won't do that.
Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi and the rest are going to have to figure this out.
But no palestine country, and regime change in Iran are a start.
My 1.5 cents.

Hassayamper said...

Whatever else you may think of Mr. Trump, it is undeniable that his aggressive, mercurial, unpredictable temperament is an asset to this country in a certain subset of circumstances.

I wouldn't say it's right for all circumstances by any means, but it's a tough old world, and there are times when the prospect of America being the disheveled muttering lunatic carrying a baseball bat on the subway platform, and the rest of the world being the well-dressed urban rabbit-people giving him a very wide berth indeed, is something I can regard with grim satisfaction.

pacwest said...

Coincidence? I think not.

Kakistocracy said...

Mental illness affects so many people these days. Its unfortunate Drago has not found effective treatment.

Josephbleau said...

I would propose a rule that would greatly reduce the chance of reoccurrence of war in Israel. 1. The un and its institutions will have zero responsibly in the Israeli area and no un or ICC resolutions further or retroactive apply. 2. Quttar is no longer a party. Disfavor will follow hints of it’s interference.

Trump should try it, I would like to see the outcome.

Rosalyn C. said...

I think the deal is terrible. Who believes it will last past the first stage? But at least those people will be saved. The fact that Trump was able to push the deal through imo is thanks to the understanding that the he will support Israel if and when it must go back into Gaza to finish the job.
Biden claiming this is an "end to the conflict" and at the same time assuring Israel and the world that Hamas will not be allowed to remain in power is an absolute joke. Hamas certainly doesn't believe that, they are celebrating their victory.
Who exactly is going to remove Hamas? Hamas has demonstrated a completely unbreakable resolve to use and sacrifice the lives of their own population in Gaza and those people are in accord with this strategy. There is no separation between Hamas and the people of Gaza as far as I have seen.

Ampersand said...

Well said, Rosalyn C.

Drago said...

"The fact that Trump was able to push the deal through imo is thanks to the understanding that the he will support Israel if and when it must go back into Gaza to finish the job."

Did you happen to catch Marco Rubio's confirmation hearing where he made clear the Trump policy for Judea and Samaria is now going to be wide open for Israeli settlements?

Rosalyn C. said...

@Drago, No I didn't see that but will look for it. My view on "settlements" is like my view on the deliberate misuse of language, "occupation" and "genocide" and so forth not based on factual reality but for emotional effect. For me these are not "settlements" they are towns and neighborhoods in lands which are also ancestral lands for Jews which are mentioned in the Bible. The only reason this is a problem for a future Palestinian state is the learned hatred Muslims/Arabs have towards Jews. How can there ever be a state of peace with that kind of hatred and "apartheid?" There never will. Arabs, both Christian and Muslim, Druze, Bahai, etc., are all able to live in peace and security in Israel. I don't see any sane reason that Jews should be banned from living in Palestine, again, except for the deep seated hatred Palestinians have towards Jews. I have seen many interviews of Jewish Israelis about how they feel about living with Arabs, and there is no problem living together. There is no problem for Israeli Arabs to live with Israeli Jews. It's an integrated society. OTOH I have seen many videos of interviews (on YouTube) of Palestinians and they are mentally absolutely incapable and absolutely unwilling to conceive of let alone to accept living with Jews as neighbors. And father, they are not even willing to accept the existence of Israel next door. The Palestinians for the most part stubbornly insist that all of Israel is "their land" and the Jews must leave. The thing is most Palestinians don't even know any Jews, and have never even met a Jew. How is that a sane situation that would produce peace? It's not. In a way this situation reminds me of the goal of desegregation of the schools in the US South, because the adults were too set in their ways and their prejudices but the children could learn to live together. That's how peace will be achieved, people living together. So the notion of "settlements" as a problem imo is bogus and counterproductive.

wendybar said...

Libs of TikTok
@libsoftiktok
·
Follow
Biden: I got the Israel-Hamas deal done

Netanyahu: Thank you Trump for getting this deal done

Brutal.

Breezy said...

IDF deserves the most credit. Decimating Hezbollah and putting Iran in check made conditions for the deal better. Witkoff was no doubt a key change agent that helped everyone see where they're really at.

I agree with others that anytime Israel has to release tens of combatants it is not a good thing. Let’s hope the combatants wander back into battle and find justice waiting.

Robert Cook said...

"This is a Jedi mind trick."

"Jedi mind tricks" are not a thing. There are only bad or worse options, the choice depending on the respective points of view of the parties involved.

Narayanan said...

look like Trump assist Israel do an Afgha-Bide-nistan

Lazarus said...

Yes, it's complicated. Some are terrorists. Others aren't. Don't assume there are simple "good guys" and "bad guys" in the region. That's how we got dragged into this mess.

Lazarus said...

I don't see any sane reason that Jews should be banned from living in Palestine, again, except for the deep seated hatred Palestinians have towards Jews.

The growth of Israel from a few small settlements into a major state and the destruction of Palestinian villages along the way seems like a good enough reason to be wary of yet more settlements.

The thing is most Palestinians don't even know any Jews, and have never even met a Jew.

Really? Not even at checkpoints?

mikee said...

Every Hamas terrorist released by Israel in this exchange immediately becomes an illegal combatant again, and a legitimate target for extermination by the IDF. Could be interesting.

Drago said...

""For me these are not "settlements" they are towns and neighborhoods in lands which are also ancestral lands for Jews which are mentioned in the Bible."

Quite so. I suppose it should not be surprising in the least that the New Soviet Democratical - islamic supremacist alliance members would attempt to completely rewrite 3000+ years of history and archeological proof, as well as clear DNA proof, that the Jewish people are indiginous above all others to the Holy Land.

Ampersand said...

Trump didn't want to release "holy hell". He had no idea what that would actually be. And the Israeli government had domestic reasons to secure a deal, even if it was a bad one. To be continued...