Hamas Proposes Hostage Release in a Cease-Fire Deal

Hamas appears to be trying to buy some time with the promise of the release of some of its remaining hostages. On Monday, we learned that Hamas has offered, not Israel, but President Trump a proposal for a 60-day cease-fire, sweetening the deal with an offer to release half of their remaining hostages.

Hamas has reportedly sent a letter to President Donald Trump proposing a 60-day pause in fighting in Gaza in exchange for the immediate release of half of the remaining hostages.
The letter, reportedly confirmed by a senior Trump administration official and a second source directly involved in the talks, asked Trump to personally guarantee the deal.
Half of the remaining hostages, an estimated 20 believed to be alive and another 30 suspected dead, is likely a deal-breaker for Trump, who has called on Hamas to immediately release all of the hostages.

It's unclear why Hamas is seeking to use President Trump as an intermediary right now. While the president has been brokering peace deals around the globe, his recent comments on Hamas have been anything but concilatory.

Trump issued a blunt warning to Hamas last week, demanding the immediate release of hostages and acknowledging he is breaking from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer "on that score" of a two-state solution.
"I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score," Trump told reporters at Thursday's joint news conference. "OK? One of our few disagreements, actually."

Hamas would likely do better to make this proposal directly to Israel. Any such offer, though, should be looked at with extreme skepticism by either the United States or Israel.

Rubio in Israel: Meeting With Hostage Families 'Sobering'

Hamas, once again, could have a cease-fire at any time. All they have to do is lay down their arms, release all their remaining hostages, and surrender. That would end this whole affair. Oh, there should be consequences - harsh ones - for any Hamas members involved in the Oct 7th attack. There should be consequences for any Hamas members found to have engaged in atrocities anywhere, at any time. The use of human shields, for example, for which President Trump called Hamas out only last week.

"Hamas said that they're going to put the hostages up as bait," Trump said. "They're going to put the hostages in front of any attack. And that's pretty brutal. We haven't heard that one in a long time. So we have to remember that."

That, of course, is likely why they haven't surrendered. The smarter Hamas fighters - granted, the mean IQ of these run-of-the-mill shooters isn't very high - have to know that they may well find themselves facing a military tribunal should they be taken alive.

The real caution, though, is this: The one thing we can rely on about any proposed deal by Hamas is that we can't rely on Hamas abiding by any such deal. They will lie, they will hide, they will use any cease-fire as a chance to rest, recuperate, to re-arm, recruit, and re-train. Then, sooner or later, they will try another attack, maybe on Israel, maybe on the United States.

That is why, as I'm continually pointing out, there will be no peace in Gaza until Hamas is no longer a factor.

Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and his administration’s bold leadership, we are respected on the world stage, and our enemies are being put on notice.

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