Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's third visit to the White House with President Donald Trump, combined with advancing discussions between Israel and Hamas in Doha, has generated waves of hope and even euphoria among broad segments of the population eager to witness the Gaza war's conclusion and the return of all hostages, living and deceased, to their homes and eternal rest.
United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff's announcement that only one disputed clause remains among four total provisions has amplified the optimism. Netanyahu received a summons for additional talks with Trump during the evening, discussions that apparently focused primarily on concluding the conflict. Netanyahu's entrance and exit through the White House rear entrance, conducted without public statements or photography, transformed the optimistic atmosphere almost immediately into uncertainty about whether an agreement might materialize.
Since October 7, the Israel Defense Forces has systematically eliminated Hamas' entire military and political command structure, obliterated all terrorist infrastructure, eliminated thousands of operatives, seized control of most Gaza Strip territory, and transformed the majority of the region into a devastated, catastrophe-stricken zone requiring years of reconstruction. The evidence is undeniable that the IDF secured a decisive victory over Hamas, which now operates as a partially functioning guerrilla organization. Tragically, Hamas retains custody of the hostages, and we continue efforts to negotiate their release.
Hostage repatriation to Israel and war termination will neither constitute nor be perceived as Israeli capitulation or Hamas triumph. Anyone possessing basic observational skills who witnesses Gaza's current state comprehends clearly which side emerged victorious and which suffered defeat. The broader Muslim world cannot derive inspiration from Hamas's current predicament and Gaza's destruction, making any war-ending agreement incapable of posing existential threats to Israel.
Throughout this conflict, Israel dismantled Iran's carefully constructed Shiite axis, devastated Hamas in Gaza, neutralized terrorist infrastructure throughout Judea and Samaria while preventing attacks, destroyed Hezbollah's capabilities, demonstrated complete superiority over Iran, and deployed the Israeli Air Force to inflict severe damage on nuclear facilities, missile installations and governmental targets. Assad's regime's collapse in Syria compounded the devastating blow to the Shiite axis. Israel now commands recognition as the Middle East's preeminent regional power, and this position of strength enables the pursuit of a Gaza agreement.
A Gaza agreement will secure international recognition of Israel's strength while demonstrating that Israel possesses both the courage to fight and achieve victory, and the courage and power to uphold its values while bringing its daughters and sons home.
The conclusion of the Gaza war will likely trigger dramatic developments across the broader Middle East. Abraham Accords expansion and commercial agreements among participating nations will accelerate Israeli economic development by decades. Iran, recognizing its precarious position, is deploying maximum effort to prevent any Israel-Hamas agreement, which serves as a prerequisite for the developing Saudi Arabian accord. Houthi missile launches and renewed Red Sea shipping attacks, combined with Hamas rocket fire and additional belligerent statements from Tehran, demonstrate Iran's comprehensive campaign to sabotage any agreement. At this critical juncture, moderate Sunni nations are observing Israeli actions while awaiting positive developments.
We confront decisive moments. International attention focuses on Doha, but critical decisions are being formulated in Washington. Israeli-American consensus to pursue Hamas negotiations and conclude the war will represent Israel's absolute triumph over the Shiite axis. Prime Minister Netanyahu, like President Trump, demonstrated the courage and audacity to initiate warfare – the time has arrived to exhibit comparable courage in pursuing its conclusion and securing the hostages' return. Victory belongs exclusively to the bold.
