Trump triumphs as hostages freed while peace-haters howl

President Donald J. Trump, the deal-maker extraordinaire.

In a stunning diplomatic coup, the remaining living Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have finally been released, marking an important step towards de-escalating the Middle East’s interminable conflict. And who do we have to thank? None other than President Donald J. Trump, the deal-maker extraordinaire. 

Instead of welcoming the hostages’ freedom and the nascent peace deal, they’re decrying it as a ‘betrayal’ of the Palestinian cause. Ludicrous doesn’t begin to cover it.

In the Morning Double Shot newsletter, Terry Barnes wrote:

Michael de Percy knows who the biggest hero of the day is: Donald Trump. Like or loathe him, only someone with the titanic self-belief and aggressive personality of Trump could drive both Hamas and Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu into a ceasefire and hostage release deal that could actually hold. Not that the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic activists will ever accept their bête noir has delivered what they have always claimed to have wanted since the atrocities of 7 October. Well, stuff ‘em.

My latest in The Spectator Australia, Trump triumphs as hostages freed while peace-haters howl.

Amid the celebrations in Tel Aviv and sighs of relief worldwide, a bizarre chorus of dissent echoes from Australia.

Australia’s pro-Palestinian activists, the perennial marchers with their keffiyehs and chants of, ‘From the river to the sea!’ are enraged.

Article |… pic.twitter.com/KsVfBJElrT

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) October 13, 2025