President Trump has once again shown the kind of raw dealmaker instinct that built his career, rolling out a detailed 20-point plan at the White House and standing shoulder to shoulder with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he did it. The plan, announced in late September, was presented as a practical roadmap to end the two-year bloodbath in Gaza and to secure the immediate return of Israeli hostages.

At the core of the proposal were straightforward, enforceable measures: an Israeli withdrawal to an agreed line to prepare for a hostage release, the return of all captives within a tight timeline, and a transitional technocratic governance structure to run day-to-day affairs in Gaza while its terror capabilities are dismantled. Trump’s blueprint even offered amnesty and safe passage for Hamas members who genuinely disarm and commit to peaceful coexistence, a bitter medicine designed to end the violence without destroying innocent lives.

This week the plan moved from paper to practice when Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage exchange, a breakthrough that sent ripples across a war-weary region and offered real hope to families who have waited in agony. The initial deal includes the staged withdrawal and the beginning of prisoner and hostage returns, a development that conservative patriots have been demanding since the slaughter of October 2023.

Make no mistake: this is a legacy-defining moment for a president who promised to put American interests and allies first. Liberal critics and the perpetually hostile mainstream media are being forced, grudgingly, to acknowledge what they denied for years — that Trump is still the unrivaled negotiator when it comes to forcing hostile actors to the table. That begrudging credit is not praise enough, but it is a clear sign the political class can no longer erase real results.

Skeptics are right to demand vigilance: the hard parts remain, namely verified disarmament of Hamas, durable governance for Gaza that prevents a return to terror, and a sustained flow of humanitarian aid without empowering extremist networks. The deal’s success will depend on iron-clad verification and the willingness of free nations to hold bad actors accountable, not on platitudes from international bureaucracies.

What this demonstrates for conservative governance is timeless: bold leadership, clear objectives, and the willingness to leverage American power and alliances will achieve outcomes that passive diplomacy cannot. Trump didn’t sit back and hope; he used influence, deadlines, and a coherent plan to push both sides toward a resolution, while rallying regional partners to help implement it.

Now is the time for patriotic Americans and our elected leaders to stand united behind the hostages’ return, to demand that any ceasefire be enforced, and to insist that Gaza be rebuilt into a secure, prosperous neighbor that does not threaten Israel. Celebrate the release of captives and the ceasefire, but hold the line: peace that leaves terror intact is no peace at all.

History will judge this as one of those rare moments when a president translated bluster into breakthrough, turning campaign-world bravado into real-world results. If fully implemented, this agreement will cement Trump’s reputation as the dealmaker who got a brutal war to stop — but the conservative cause must remain vigilant to ensure the promises are kept and American leverage is used until the mission is done.