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Ruby Chen

President Trump’s Deal of the Century: Finish the Job and Bring All the Hostages Back Home

President Donald Trump’s discussions this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are intended to set the stage for a grander deal for the future of the Middle East. Even before his bombshell press conference, rumors of the “Deal of the Century” were plentiful. While discussions about a big-picture arrangement are crucial and inspiring, any structure of reconciliation built to last for the future must rest on a solid foundation that should be laid now.

Anyone following the return of Israeli hostages these past few weeks cannot help but notice one unmistakable fact: the return of our loved ones from the Hamas dungeons is not just a moment of tremendous triumph, relief, and elation for the families of these former hostages, but rather, for the entire nation. Indeed, the tears of joy shed from witnessing the first hugs between the former hostages and their loved ones could fill our thirsty reservoirs nationwide.

And that simple, but meaningful, fact points to a fundamental truth: There simply can not be any path forward for Israel until all of our hostages are back and we heal our collective wounds. That is why, the fastest and most decisive way for President Trump to begin to forge a deal that would shape his legacy and transform the Middle East is to put the saga of the hostages behind us once and for all.

There is no doubt that President Trump and his team care deeply about getting the hostages home – they have already made their commitment to the hostage families crystal clear. This sentiment was repeated to me personally following meetings this week in the White House and Treasury.

President Trump is a master of nuances in the art of the deal. The hostage deal is Trump’s deal. Already, President Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have gotten more hostages out than the deal calls for, and sooner. The President has saved many hostages – we ask him to finish the job and get all of the hostages out. The release of all the hostages must remain separate from the complexities of broader political issues, both internal and external. Those can be addressed only once every hostage has come home. Without our loved ones safely in their families’ arms, this wound suffered by the entire nation will never heal, and a healthy foundation for lasting peace in the region will remain out of reach.

Phase one of the hostage exchange is working. A firm basis for phase two has been established. Yesterday, President Trump created much more political space for Prime Minister Netanyahu to operate in regarding both phases. These are lives that hang in the balance. Every moment negotiations are drawn out and unnecessarily complicated threatens not only their lives but the viability of the greater deal as well. President Trump – I urge you to finish the job and release all the hostages as a pre-condition to solving the Gaza problem, and to solidify your position as a great champion of the Jewish people.

About the Author
Ruby and Hagit Chen are the parents of Itay Chen, a 19-year-old American member of the IDF who was stationed near Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023. Ruby and Hagit live in Israel with their two other children.
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