Including Hamas?

 

President Donald Trump participates in a multilateral meeting with Arab and Muslim leaders at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, Tuesday, September 23, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

Love him or hate him, U.S. President Donald Trump says what he means.

After unveiling a 20-point Palestinian peace plan last week, Trump made his thinking on the subject on the war between Israel and Hamas quite plain in a social media post on October 3:

“Hamas has been a ruthless and violent threat, for many years, in the Middle East! They have killed (and made lives unbearably miserable), culminating with the October 7th MASSACRE, in Israel, babies, woman, children, old people, and many young men and women, boys and girls, getting ready to celebrate their future lives together. 
As retribution for the October 7th attack on civilization, more than 25,000 Hamas “soldiers” have already been killed. Most of the rest are surrounded and MILITARILY TRAPPED, just waiting for me to give the word, “GO,” for their lives to be quickly extinguished. As for the rest, we know where and who you are, and you will be hunted down, and killed. I am asking that all innocent Palestinians immediately leave this area of potentially great future death for safer parts of Gaza. Everyone will be well cared for by those that are waiting to help. 
Fortunately for Hamas, however, they will be given one last chance! Great, powerful, and very rich Nations of the Middle East, and the surrounding areas beyond, together with the United States of America, have agreed, with Israel signing on, to PEACE, after 3000 years, in the Middle East. THIS DEAL ALSO SPARES THE LIVES OF ALL REMAINING HAMAS FIGHTERS! 
The details of the document are known to the WORLD, and it is a great one for ALL! We will have PEACE in the Middle East one way or the other. The violence and bloodshed will stop. RELEASES THE HOSTAGES, ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING THE BODIES OF THOSE THAT ARE DEAD, NOW! 
An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time. Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Those who, over the years, dismissed Mr. Trump or underestimated him have come to rue the day. Though Donald Trump’s motives are sometimes inscrutable (arguably, one of his greatest negotiation strengths), he always has a reason for the things he does and says.

There is a reason Trump chose the phrase “ONE WAY OR THE OTHER,” rather than the more common “One way or another.” There is a reason he writes in all caps. Even his recent penchant for “Thank you for your attention to this matter!” is by design.

To suggest otherwise is to continue to underestimate Donald Trump. You can bet Hamas is taking Donald Trump seriously as his Sunday deadline approaches. They may be bloodthirsty, nihilistic, antisemitic terrorists bent on jihad and world domination, but they aren’t completely stupid.

And while plenty of progressive news media outlets are grumpy that President Trump is getting further with the Palestinian peace process than others before him, Trump’s efforts are also drawing plenty of praise from world leaders.

“The Foreign Ministers of the State of Qatar, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Republic of Egypt welcome President Donald J. Trump’s leadership and his sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza, and assert their confidence in his ability to find a path to peace,” said the Middle Eastern leaders in a joint statement:

“They emphasize the importance of the partnership with the United States in securing peace in the region. Along these lines, the ministers welcome the announcement by President Trump regarding his proposal to end the war, rebuild Gaza, prevent the displacement of the Palestinian people and advance a comprehensive peace, as well as his announcement that he will not allow the annexation of the West Bank. The ministers affirm their readiness to engage positively and constructively with the United States and the parties toward finalizing the agreement and ensuring its implementation, in a manner that ensures peace, security, and stability for the peoples of the region.”

“I welcome President Trump’s 20-point plan to ensure an end to the war in Gaza,” said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “I am also convinced that durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel would be essential in bringing political stability and economic growth to the region. It is also my firm belief that President Trump is fully prepared to assist in whatever way necessary to make this extremely important and urgent understanding to become a reality. I laud President Trump’s leadership and the vital role played by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in bringing an end to this war. I also strongly believe that the implementation of the two state proposal is essential to ensure lasting peace in the region.”

“The Palestinian Authority welcomes the sincere and determined efforts of President Donald J. Trump to end the war on Gaza and affirms its confidence in his ability to find a path toward peace. It also underscores the importance of the partnership with the United States in achieving peace in the region,” said that body in a statement.

The latest word from Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is that they are on the brink of a hostage deal.

Godspeed, gentleman. Here’s hoping for good news for the remaining hostages and their families in the coming hours.

(Contributing writer, Brooke Bell)