An historic triumph

In a region long scarred by conflict, one man has forged a path to peace where others faltered: President Donald J. Trump. On Oct. 13, history witnessed a massive achievement as Trump brokered a Gaza peace deal that virtually no other president could deliver. This isn’t merely a ceasefire; it is a seismic shift in the Middle East, a region where strength is the only currency universally understood by Muslims and Israelis alike. Trump’s leadership pressured a crippled Hamas into submission, securing the release of all living Israeli hostages and dismantling the terrorist group’s grip on Gaza. No other modern leader has matched this feat.

Trump’s vision for peace wasn’t born of timid diplomacy but of a commanding presence that reshaped the negotiating table. From the outset, he understood the Middle East’s pulse—its need for decisive action over empty promises. His 20-point peace framework, unveiled in Sharm el-Sheikh, compelled Hamas to capitulate while offering Israel security and dignity. But the genius of Trump’s plan lies in his inclusivity: He brought Arab and Muslim nations—Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, and others—into the fold as co-partners. At the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit, he thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, saying, “You played a very important role,” and lauded Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for enabling negotiations. Trump’s ability to rally Muslim leaders alongside Israel, building on his 2020 Abraham Accords, underscores a vision where mutual respect and cooperation replace enmity.

In Jerusalem, Trump’s address to the Knesset yesterday was a moment of profound triumph. Welcomed as a hero with prolonged standing ovations, he declared, “The long and painful nightmare is finally over ... a historic dawn of a new Middle East.” His words echoed the hope of a region reborn, drawing parallels to his earlier successes in normalizing Israel’s ties with Arab states. To Israeli lawmakers, he proclaimed, “You’ve won,” affirming their victory over terror. Reflecting on his counsel to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump recalled urging, “Bibi, you’re going to be remembered for this far more than if you kept this thing going, going, going, kill, kill, kill.”

The Knesset erupted in applause, and Netanyahu responded, “I am committed to this peace.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog honored Trump with the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor for securing the hostages’ return. In Tel Aviv, hundreds of thousands rallied, chanting thanks as families tearfully reunited with loved ones. The joy was palpable—Israel rejoiced, not just for peace but for a leader who delivered when it mattered most.

Across the Arab world, the sentiment mirrored Israel’s relief. From Cairo to Doha, leaders and citizens celebrated the end of Hamas’s reign of terror and the war’s devastation. El-Sisi called Trump’s involvement “very encouraging” with a “strong mandate,” while ordinary Gazans, weary of conflict, saw hope in a future free from Hamas’s shadow. Trump’s vision extended beyond ceasefire: He envisions a revitalized Gaza, a “miracle” over decades, led by his proposed “Board of Peace” to oversee reconstruction. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he declared, “Gaza would be a ‘miracle’ over the coming decades,” a promise to transform a war-torn strip into a beacon of prosperity.

The Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on Oct. 13 was a global testament to American leadership.

More than 20 world leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Jordan’s King Abdullah, and Qatar’s Emir, gathered to endorse the peace framework. Starmer paid “particular tribute” to Trump. The presence of such a diverse coalition—Western and Arab, Muslim and non-Muslim—underscored Trump’s ability to unite disparate powers. His call at the summit for a “once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us” resonated deeply, setting the stage for broader regional normalization, including a potential Iran-Israel deal he teased with, “Wouldn’t it be nice?”

This wasn’t just a summit; it was a celebration of a genuine diplomatic triumph, a moment where the world recognized Trump’s role in reshaping the Middle East.

Yet, even in this moment of triumph, caution is warranted.

Hamas, though crippled and, at least officially excluded from Gaza’s future governance, leaves behind a poisonous Islamist ideology that thrives on hatred of Israel. The release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, while a necessary step, raises concerns. Some among them could become the next Osama bin Ladens or Yahya Sinwars, carrying forward a legacy of terror if not carefully monitored. The “Board of Peace” and international oversight must remain vigilant to ensure this ideology doesn’t resurface. Still, these challenges don’t diminish the magnitude of this achievement.

Oct. 13, 2025, stands as a great moment in history—a day when war gave way to a ceasefire, when hostages returned home, and when a region dared to dream of a better future. Whether you like his rhetoric or not, and whether you agree with his policies or not, Donald Trump has delivered a deal that holds genuine promise. That’s a rare achievement.