Free the Israeli and Palestinian Hostages Held by Hamas

President Donald Trump’s meeting today with King Abdullah of Jordan has the potential to transform the Middle East. The host has rightly concluded that thanks to the war Hamas terrorists started fifteen months ago, Gaza is simply uninhabitable. If the visitor – who, like rulers across the region, professes a commitment to the Palestinian people – prioritizes alleviating their unsustainable circumstances by granting them at least temporary refugee status, a festering humanitarian disaster and a flashpoint for wider war can be eliminated.

President Trump deserves great credit for refusing to do the easy thing, namely continue policies towards Gaza specifically and the Palestinians more generally that have demonstrably failed. His ultimatum giving Hamas until noon on Saturday to release all hostages and insistence that Gazans cease being effectively held hostage as well affords Abdullah an opportunity to be a catalyst for peace.

Seize the day.

This is Frank Gaffney.