As I write this, we are minutes from the scheduled release of Israeli hostages from Gaza. My prayer is that it will happen before this post actually drops. Regardless, the facts remain…

Soon after President Trump broke news on October 8, 2025, regarding Israel and Hamas’ agreement to phase 1 of the peace deal, news began dripping that Hamas “cannot find” some of the hostages. Meanwhile, European countries and others had already laid the groundwork for a “two-state solution” by acknowledging a Palestinian state. Furthermore, mutterings from Hamas have already begun circulating that they will never disarm, and will pursue future attacks similar to October 7 over and over again.

Let’s be realistic. First, the Trump team accomplished an incredibly miraculous feat by bringing so many Arab Muslim nations to the table to pressure Hamas to release hostages. There is no question President Trump managed to do something no other president or world leader has ever come close to accomplishing. Major kudos.

However, realism also dictates that we understand chances that the “peace deal” actually occurs are almost non-existent. By God’s grace, some hostages have come out of Gaza. (Praise God for that.) Honestly, though, I don’t believe all the hostages will ever be released. Why? Hamas is a demonically driven, evil terrorist organization who loves to inflict mental and emotional pain on top of the most brutal physical pain. Also, as long as there are hostages in Gaza, the IDF must fight with the threat of killing or destroying the bodies of their own people. In essence, Hamas will always hide behind Israeli hostages if it serves their interests. So, I have very little confidence that all hostages will come out of Gaza.

Secondly, even if every hostage is released, Hamas will never disarm and disband. Their very charter calls for them to destroy Israel! That is the purpose of their existence. New generations of terrorists are home grown, as virtually every home in Gaza (thanks to UNRWA) was found to have very brutal, vicious and militant educational resources used to brainwash their young people. Palestinian families typically have lots of children and huge ambition to send their young boys to terror camps to become full-fledged Israel-hating terrorists.

Leopards do not change their spots. Hamas will never agree to disarm. They will simply outlast President Trump’s presidency and hope America will return to a weak and pathetic administration that will not be able to contain their violence and aggression. They exhibit incredible patience in waiting for the right advantages, and eventually, America will not have leadership strong enough to contain them. At that point, they will come back stronger than ever.

Many want to call this a “lasting and enduring peace.” However, my Bible tells me something far different! Of course, let’s rejoice with families whose loved ones have returned from captivity in Gaza, and be thankful that the fighting in Gaza is silenced for now. Be prepared, though…sadly, it is not likely to last.