Seth Leibsohn: Progress on the Intractable in the Middle East

Thursday, October 9, 2025

The Donald Trump Gaza peace plan marks a major development toward solving the intractable—but, as Winston Churchill once said, “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”  There is a lot to worry about, yet.

First, the return of living hostages is a breakthrough, but unless Hamas is disarmed and removed from all power, the suffering of all will continue and more terrorism will come.

It is worth remembering why this peace plan came about in the first place, as it was all so unnecessary.  It came because a de facto state, Gaza, which Israel turned over to the Arabs twenty years ago turned itself into a terrorist state that engaged in the most brutal attack the history of terrorism has ever known—including the killing of dozens of Americans.  And to this day, Hamas still has more public support than alternative parties there—which bodes poorly for the future of all, including civilization.

May this be the beginning of their end.

I’m Seth Leibsohn

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