Hostage deal shows Hamas took Trump's 'hell to pay' threat seriously

Incoming President Donald Trump has repeatedly issued stern warnings to Hamas in the past few weeks, saying that there will be "hell to pay" if Israeli hostages are not released by the time he returns to office on Jan. 20. Wednesday's announcement that an agreement between Israel and Hamas was near, providing for a temporary cease-fire and the release of 33 Israeli hostages, made clear that the "Trump Factor" played a pivotal role in pushing this deal forward.

These 33 Israeli hostages to be freed under the deal, along with 65 others still held by Hamas in Gaza in sub-human conditions for the past 466 days, were snatched from their homes and their beds on a Saturday morning of the Jewish holiday of Simchat on Oct. 7, 2023. Ever since that day, their names and faces have become one with the Israeli collective. Their stories have become our own. Israelis are immensely grateful to President-elect Trump for his commitment and tenacity, as well as to the thousands of brave Israeli men and women of the IDF who have risked life and limb to resurrect Israel from the horrible failure of that fateful day.