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Last week, our hearts were lightened with the return of 20 living Israeli hostages who spent the previous 738 days under Hamas captivity. 738 days. An unimaginable horror. While much remains to secure a lasting peace in the Middle East, and to ensure the long term health and safety of those returning – seeing families reunite with their loved ones, watching their hugs, their tears, and their profound relief, was a small moment of true peace and joy. May G-d protect and watch over the returned and their families, and continue to give comfort to all of Israel.
This administration has achieved remarkable progress not only through ensuring the release of the remaining living hostages, but also in getting Arab nations involved in a peaceful solution. That said, a proposal for peace is not the same as peace itself. Some of President Trump’s highest profile negotiators – from Vice President JD Vance, to Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to Jared Kushner, of Abraham Accords renown – are now in Israel attempting to maintain the ceasefire and peace deal proposed by President Trump. Now is the pivotal moment. Despite agreeing to return all the hostages, living and dead, Hamas continues to hold the remains of some of the deceased, including those taken on October 7th and Hadar Goldin, who was murdered in 2014. Additionally, Hamas has pursued a policy of executing those Palestinians it views as “rivals” or “collaborators,” resulting in continued death. This has also led to repeated exchanges between the IDF and Hamas which put the ceasefire in a tenuous position. It is at this moment that we must all remember that for true peace, Hamas must be dismantled, disarmed, and disempowered. Let us not lose our will to fully implement Trump’s deal and use the strength of America to create a lasting peace.
- Carrie Filipetti, Executive Director of The Vandenberg Coalition
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