Two years have elapsed since the tragic events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a devastating incursion that resulted in the deadliest day in Israeli history.
In the course of one morning, over 1,200 individuals—men, women, and children—lost their lives. Homes turned into tombs as families were brutally murdered, and the once-vibrant communities were reduced to ashes.
As the chaos unfolded, hundreds were taken as hostages into Gaza—some of whom may never find their way home.
For a nation as small as Israel, the trauma was akin to experiencing forty 9/11s folded into a single morning.
WATCH: Is Another War with Iran on the Horizon? An Analysis of the Israel-Iran Crisis
The Jewish people have not faced such catastrophic loss in a single day since the Holocaust, a legacy that continues to shape Israeli life even today.
On this significant anniversary, Israel now contemplates a new agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated his acceptance of a 20-point plan proposed by former President Donald Trump, albeit under stringent conditions.
Surprisingly, Hamas has also expressed its acceptance of the plan.
At the heart of the deal are four primary stipulations: the release of all remaining hostages, a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, exchanges of prisoners, and international oversight to ensure Hamas cannot regain control of Gaza.
However, I struggle to categorize this as a peace agreement. Fundamentally, it appears more like a hostage negotiation—spurred by the urgent need to release captives rather than to ensure lasting security.
The issue of hostages has always been the emotional and political fulcrum in this conflict.
On that fateful October day, 251 people were forcibly taken into Gaza. Since then, only 148 have been released alive, 58 bodies have been recovered, and 48 remain officially unaccounted for.
Israeli intelligence estimates that merely about 20 of those hostages are still alive.
I have witnessed how heavy this burden weighs on both Israeli and American hearts. In Tel Aviv, tens of thousands have taken to the streets week after week, demanding the return of the hostages.
In the U.S., despite growing criticism of Israel, calls for the hostages’ release resonate deeply as a moral imperative.
At last year’s Democratic National Convention, Senator Bernie Sanders, typically a vocal critic of Israeli policy, donned a hostage pin while on stage.
For Hamas, the hostages once represented their most significant bargaining chip. Nowadays, they are a potential liability.
Countries like Qatar and Egypt, along with figures like Mahmoud Abbas, are urging Hamas to facilitate their release. Western nations warn that holding onto captives will further tarnish Hamas’s already precarious international reputation.
In striking this deal, Hamas seems to be attempting to recast itself as a capable negotiating partner, hoping to earn credibility from Western governments such as France and Canada, both of which are already signaling recognition of a Palestinian state.
Yet, it’s essential to understand that Hamas’s core ideology remains unchanged. Its charter continues to call for the obliteration of Israel, with its leaders promising further violence.
History has shown that no terrorist organization willingly disbands, and there’s little reason to believe Hamas will be the exception.
President Trump has made it abundantly clear: if Hamas violates the terms of this agreement, it will unleash an overwhelming backlash.
Netanyahu has linked Israel’s adherence to the agreement to tangible results—no troop withdrawals until hostages are verifiably released.
This leads me to conclude that while this agreement might indeed resolve the hostage situation, it is unlikely to extinguish the underlying conflict.
Hamas’s cooperation seems driven more by a desire to survive than a genuine commitment to peace, especially given their penchant for broadcasting violence and glorifying death.
As we reflect two years after October 7, Israel finds itself at a pivotal juncture. The families of hostages deserve closure, and the people of Gaza need freedom from Hamas’s oppressive grip. The Jewish community deserves security in their homeland.
A potential agreement may release the hostages—but ensuring that another October 7 never occurs again demands nothing less than the total dismantling of Hamas.
