This piece argues that the recent release of hostages and a fragile ceasefire create a narrow window to implement President Trump’s 20-point peace plan, disarm Hamas, pressure Iran, expand the Abraham Accords, and sustain a firm U.S.-Israel partnership under the “No Daylight” policy. It calls for decisive American leadership, regional coalition-building, and relentless pressure on Hamas and its backers so the hard-won gains on the ground are not lost. The tone is direct and unapologetically Republican about the necessity of strength, deterrence, and clear objectives. Time is short and action must be swift to lock in a safer Middle East.
The reality on the ground has shifted dramatically from a year ago because Israel refused to accept defeat and the United States reasserted its power abroad. With hostages freed and a ceasefire holding, even if unevenly, the strategic conditions are better than they were. This is not a moment for hesitation or half-measures. It is a chance to translate battlefield gains into durable security.
Hamas did not suddenly discover a love of peace; they blinked because they were cornered and outmatched. Since the truce took hold they have turned inward, purging rivals and terrorizing civilians to shore up their grip. Allowing them to regroup would be a catastrophic mistake and would invite another round of violence. The U.S. and Israel must deny Hamas any role in governing Gaza going forward.
Disarming Hamas means more than seizing weapons stores; it means demolishing the tunnel networks, halting the flow of war materiel, and building a security architecture that prevents rearmament. That task requires on-the-ground operations paired with tight border and maritime controls. President Trump’s plan makes clear that permanent peace hinges on removing Hamas’s capacity to wage war. There is no peace that tolerates armed militias running a territory adjacent to a free nation.
Washington will need partners in the Arab and Muslim world to make security sustainable and to defray the burdens of reconstruction. The coalition must be willing to push where needed, including applying pressure to states that have sheltered or enabled Hamas activity. Nations like Qatar and Turkey should be reminded that stability and prosperity come with responsibilities, not impunity. U.S. leadership should weld these partners into a single, accountable effort to stabilize Gaza.
At the same time the plan depends on keeping Iran from rebuilding a “Ring of Fire” around Israel or reviving a nuclear program that threatens the region. The weakening of Tehran created an opening for this plan, and losing that advantage would be devastating. Israel and the United States should continue to strike at proxies and networks that empower Tehran and must coordinate where direct pressure is required. The goal is to prevent Iran from ever again projecting the kind of power that fuels proxy warfare.
Tehran is fragile but not defeated, and autocratic allies like China and Russia are ready to help it recover. The sensible move is to return to a maximum pressure posture that constrains Iran’s finances, logistics, and regional influence. Explore every diplomatic, economic, and security tool to ensure the regime cannot export terror or destabilize neighboring states. Weakness or complacency would let Iran rebuild the capabilities that made this crisis worse.
The Abraham Accords demonstrated a different path: normalizing ties can change incentives and isolate those who profit from perpetual conflict. The accords brought formal relations between Israel and several Arab nations, and they showed that economic opportunity and security cooperation are powerful motivators. Expanding those gains to more Muslim-majority countries will reinforce the peace plan and give regional leaders a stake in Gaza’s stability. Incentives for prosperity beat the old model of endless confrontation.
Finally, the United States must maintain its “No Daylight” policy toward Israel, keeping the partnership tight and unequivocal. Giving Israel the strategic space to defeat threats and then helping convert victory into workable governance arrangements created the conditions for real progress. This is a moment for sustained pressure and unified action, not unilateral retreat or muddled diplomacy. If Washington and its partners keep the focus and muscle in place, this fragile opportunity can be turned into lasting advantage for peace and security in the region.
