adminA so-called “ceasefire” was announced this month that saw the last living hostages in Gaza handed over and Israel begin the release of roughly two thousand Palestinian detainees as part of an exchange arrangement negotiated with U.S. involvement. The deal — struck in mid-October 2025 and heralded by many in the mainstream as a diplomatic win — included the return of hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds, if not nearly two thousand, prisoners from Israeli custody. What the headlines call “a step toward peace” is really a dangerous pause that frees convicted murderers and militants back onto the streets.
Tom Basile, host of Newsmax’s America Right Now, was blunt and right to sound the alarm: this “deal” does not end the jihadist war on Jews and the West, it merely reshuffles the pieces on the battlefield for the next attack. Basile’s warning should carry weight because he speaks from a conservative, pro-Israel perspective that refuses to sugarcoat the obvious: you cannot make peace by rewarding terror. Americans who love liberty and support our ally Israel should demand clarity about who is being released and what guarantees, if any, exist to prevent future violence.
Make no mistake: when a government releases individuals who were imprisoned for terrorism, it is not naïve to call that dangerous — it is common sense. The practical reality is that hundreds of detainees released under this arrangement include people convicted of violent attacks, and the likelihood that some will rejoin militant networks is uncomfortably high. Our leaders owe the families of victims and every concerned citizen a straight answer: what mechanisms are in place to track, detain, or neutralize recidivist terrorists once they walk free? Silence and vague promises from diplomats are not enough.
And let’s be honest about the global players who cheered and brokered this deal: handing back prisoners in exchange for temporary calm without enforcing disarmament is a recipe for future bloodshed. Hamas and its proxies have not been disarmed, and the ceasefire architecture still leaves too much power in the hands of groups whose charter calls for Israel’s destruction. Until there is real demilitarization and real accountability, the West should not pretend this is peace — it is a lull that could be exploited.
This moment must be a wake-up call for patriotic Americans. We should stand with Israel unconditionally in demanding long-term security guarantees, push our government to demand stringent monitoring of any released militants, and insist that humanitarian aid not become a cover for rebuilding terror capability. Weakness rewards bad actors; strength and vigilance protect our people and our values.
Don’t be fooled by the theater of “deal done.” The ceasefire may have returned some loved ones to families, and that is a blessing, but the West cannot trade away security for a photo op and call it victory. Patriots must press Congress and the White House to hold partners accountable, secure export controls and intelligence-sharing, and never normalize the idea that terror can be traded for a temporary headline.
