While hostages are coming home, the deal’s implications for Hamas raise serious concerns

Jerusalem: So, the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is supposed to be a first step, but honestly, we don’t really know what’s next. There are a lot of behind-the-scenes promises we’re not privy to.
Some folks think that Trump and Netanyahu might have cooked this up as a tactical move for something bigger in the Middle East. But the big news is that dozens of Israelis, including little kids, are finally coming home after being held for over a year. That’s enough to make even the toughest critics feel a bit better.
Still, it’s hard to look at this deal and not feel it’s a total disgrace. Hamas is still in power, albeit weakened. They might be struggling, but they can still claim victory here.
As the saying goes, a terror group wins as long as it doesn’t lose. Forcing Israel to stop fighting, release prisoners, and meet demands just to get hostages back? That’s a big win for Hamas.
And it’s not just a small win. With Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority leader, being 89 and not in great health, this deal could let Hamas step up and take control in the West Bank when he’s gone.
What’s even more concerning is what this deal says about the political games in Washington. Why would Trump, who said there’d be “hell to pay” if hostages weren’t released, back a deal that’s pretty much the same one Biden’s team has been pushing for months?
Hearing Trump’s special envoy praise Qatar, a major backer of Hamas, as “doing God’s work” makes you wonder if the new administration will really change things in the region.
It’s puzzling why Trump would support such a flawed deal that doesn’t even bring all the hostages home at once and leaves Hamas with plenty of power moving forward.
Was he misled by the so-called “Deep State”? Or did he get pushed into making hasty decisions by people around him? We can’t say for sure, but it’s clear that this deal has some serious flaws.
During his first term, Trump did break away from the usual foreign policy norms. He moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and showed that peace deals with Arab nations could happen even without resolving the Palestinian issue first.
After the terrible events of October 7, 2023, you’d think we’d see a fresh approach to U.S. policy in the region—one that doesn’t tolerate terrorists. Instead, we’re getting another deal that seems to reward them for their actions.
Let’s hope the hostages get home safe and sound, but let’s also hope that when Trump takes office, he reconsiders his stance and offers a stronger vision for American leadership.
Liel Leibovitz is editor at large for Tablet and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.