The Art of the Middle East Deal
Roger L. Simon says pretty much what I’ve been thinking about the current Middle East deal, so I’ll just quote him:
Breaking for the whole world today is the news that Hamas is agreeing to some of President Trump’s 20-point proposal to end the Gaza War, most notably the release of all hostages, living and dead.
Does this mean genuine peace or a hudna?
That is indeed the question.
More:
Hudna is an Arabic term for “calm” or “quiet.” But as our sometime friends at Grok point out, “In contemporary politics, it’s notably used by groups like Hamas to describe extended ceasefires in conflicts, such as the Israeli-Palestinian one, as a tactical pause rather than a permanent peace.”
That’s a polite definition. I’ve seen hudna defined as a deliberate deception designed to lull the enemy into complacency, especially in times of great danger, as Hamas is in at this moment from an impending Israeli attack that President Trump would have given his imprimatur.
Yes, but then again, Israel’s first goal is to get the hostages back. After that, if the Palestinians fail to live up to the terms …
More from Simon:
That strategy is to make everybody feel good for now in the hopes that it will continue to pay off and grow, so that Hamas can be maneuvered. It’s the Art of the Middle East Deal. …
We shall see what transpires. That is what President Trump, beneath all his hosannas, was saying subtextually. This is a test. And I suspect, if Hamas fails, he is prepared to act.
Who is the naive one here? I don’t think it’s either party. That is, I don’t think it’s any of the many parties, because other Middle Eastern countries are involved in this deal. As far as I can tell, dhimmi Western Europe is not.
And will the hostages actually be returned? I’m not optimistic even on that, but I could be wrong and I hope I’m wrong.
https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1974566735283159500
Continuation of Pres’ statement and map of Gaza withdrawal lines shown at link.
Neo we’ve lived too long, I also don’t believe.
Even a completely unjustified ceasefire would be welcome if they really released the hostages, but it’s hard to believe they will–because the ceasefire would be short-lived if Hamas continues to act in character, and the next military push will be far less restrained if no more hostages are at risk.
More recent Trump:
__________________________
I appreciate that Israel has temporarily stopped the bombing in order to give the Hostage release and Peace Deal a chance to be completed. Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off.
I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Let’s get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly.
–Fox News, “Hamas agrees to release hostages, but are ‘refusing’ the idea of giving up power”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTFQ8npEpeY
__________________________
Well, I’m sure Hamas would love to delay, but I hear the steel in Trump’s communication.
Hamas would do well to listen. I question whether their fanaticism will allow them to.
Trying again; the key will be whether Hamas can finesse an Israeli defensive operation as Israel breaking the agreement. It wouldn’t have to be a minimal operation on Hamas’ part; the larger the….whatever. But if the Israelis respond…..
But Islam commands permanent war against the Jews. At 200% of our best expectations, won’t make much difference.
Saw a guy on Fox News Live Now from a military intel background this evening. Said Hamas sent a group to disarm a homegrown criminal gang. Hamas lost. If they can’t control the situation…what difference does an agreement make?
Richard Aubrey: But Islam commands permanent war against the Jews.
Islam also seems to be at war with the rest of us, as well as their own folks Who Don’t Believe the Right Way.
If one reads the Quran and Islamic history it’s not a big mystery either.
______________________
The Great Prophecy*
[48:28] He is the One who sent His messenger with the
guidance and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over
all other religions. GOD suffices as a witness.*
*48:28 This important prophecy informs us that Submission
will inevitably dominate the whole world.
I’ve forgotten which Quran translation I found this.
______________________
Of course, it’s more complicated but make no mistake, Muslims take the Quran seriously and their place, as Allah has promised them, is in dominion over the world, i.e. the rest of us.
Re: Hudna
As far as I’m concerned with Muslim leaders it’s always hudna.
And just in case anyone was wondering…
“CAIR Says Muslims Have Right To Vandalize Christian Churches”—
https://blazingcatfur.ca/2025/10/05/cair-says-muslims-have-right-to-vandalize-christian-churches/
(At this stage of the game, I’d say that CAIR is offering us a “helpful warning”.
Will it be heeded, though…?)
Clearly, the psychos are in charge of the asylum.
Britain is hanging by a thread.
“Doctor Says Focus On Synagogue Attack Is Sign Of ‘Jewish Supremacy”—
https://blazingcatfur.ca/2025/10/05/doctor-says-focus-on-synagogue-attack-is-sign-of-jewish-supremacy/
Test
…As is Canada.
(No surprise there, certainly…)
‘DEI Expert, One of the ‘Top 50 Influential Muslims,’ Explains Why Jews Can Be Killed in Synagogues;
‘”Any hate towards said Jews would be valid”’—
https://www.frontpagemag.com/dei-expert-top-50-influential-muslims-explains-why-jews-can-be-killed-in-synagogues/
H/T Instapundit.
I suppose the good news is that it’s all out in the open now.
(Now?
Hmm, maybe “the best disinfectant” isn’t everything it’s made out to be….)
Knock on wood, it appears Hamas is accepting Trump’s deal, which is all or nothing.
They are now ironing out some practical details. Assuming Hamas formally accepts by 6pm ET, then the 72-hour clock begins for the release of ALL hostages.
We’ll see.
After that there is the messy business of who runs Gaza and how it will be rebuilt.
Well, this is embarrassing. For years, until reading this post, I thought “hudna” was a form of this word, that appears in similar forms in many slavic languages:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hovno
“Calm” or “quiet” is a much different meaning. 🙂
Why Tony Blair is precisely the right person to help run Gaza (as has been suggested recently):
“Former UK Prime Minister Embroiled in Scandal;
“Tony Blair had secretly lobbied on behalf of a tech giant that stands to make millions from Labour’s controversial digital ID card scheme.”—
https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news-corner/tony-blair-larry-ellison-lobbying-corruption-national-id-cards-uk/
huxley:
The left will HATE it if it really works out okay and they are forced to figure out how to avoid giving Trump any credit. But I feel they’re up to the task.
Caroline Glick speaks with JNS about what’s going on. In brief, she is optimistic, but listen for yourselves: https://youtu.be/iLbJUbKNLAo
It’s pretty incredible that the Trump team got a deal together that was acceptable to Israel as well as the Arab nations, and particularly Qatar.
That takes real work, certainly more than verbose but always empty performances at the UN.
Credible reports are optimistic, but it just seems impossible that all hostages are released in one go. I love resetting the bar there, but this is Hamas that many of us here have been observing for 20 years.
It seems most likely that they stall, and then do let out a few hostages in the next few days and then violate the agreement, Israel responds but with support of those Arab nations (theoretically).
9 minutes to the deadline any good live coverage to recommend?
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/415868
“Trump warns Hamas: Time is of the essence, or massive bloodshed will follow”
Paul S:
I’m watching:
–Boots on the Ground, “BREAKING: Trump Ultimatum — IDF Halts Gaza Offensive”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGgbD8ucrkM
It’s TBN Israel, Trinity Broadcasting Network, a Christian outfit. I’ve watched it before and it seems OK.
Thanks Huxley. Good info there.
The Call Me Back podcast on Ark Media is the best I’ve found for getting into the weeds analysis on this topic, but not live. (In case others are interested)
I don’t really pray, but for these hostages to get home, I am.
Paul S.:
I say, pray ’em if you got ’em!
Caroline Glick is optimistic. That’s good enough for me.
–“Hamas Thought They Knew EVERYTHING About Israel – They Were Dead Wrong (w/Caroline Glick)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLbJUbKNLAo
Her basic point is that Hamas has no good move.
Surrender and live … but out of power.
Don’t surrender and die … and out of power.
Works for me.
Not sure.
If ALL you want to do is DESTROY—to obliterate your declared enemy whether you (or your people) survive or not—then whether or not you have any “good move” is a non-sequitur.
+Bonus: In Memoriam….
“October 7, 2023: Noam and Yishai Slotki, Hy”d, the brothers who saved Kibbutz Alumim”;
“The two heard of the invasion, drove to the Gaza envelope armed with handguns, jumped out of their car at Kibbutz Alumim, and rushed towards the fighting at 9:40 a.m. They prevented the terrorists, who had killed 20 Thai workers living in a house outside it, from entering the kibbutz.”—
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/415884
And from the “Is America a Great Country or What?” File:
“Ex-Biden Officials Zero In on Dearborn for Anti-Israel Lobbying Effort;
“Plus, visiting Harvard Law prof known for gun control advocacy arrested for firing pellet gun near synagogue”—
https://freebeacon.substack.com/p/ex-biden-officials-zero-in-on-dearborn
Well, it’s Monday, Oct 6, 2025, 8:20 AM on the east coast of the USA and still !!!! Hamas is stalling.
Really now, is anyone surprised??
Apparently negotiations are still ongoing to iron out….whatever.
Hamas will “negotiate” forever as long as Israel allows this and there will be no real solution to the mess there.
Israel just needs to get on with it and eliminate Hamas.
Also obvious; the hate-Trumpers would much prefer a real blood bath in the Mideast instead of any Trump peace plan that works.
Related:
“…Two years after October 7, there is no path to peace”—
https://whatthehellisgoingon.substack.com/p/wth-two-years-after-october-7-there
H/T Powerline blog.
“And that [unfortunately] is…all ye need to know…”
All we are saying is give Peace Deal a chance!
That said, I figure the odds are better than a coin toss that Hamas will FAFO.
Trump keeps emphasizing speed in bringing the hostages back.
To be sure. But one news show mentioned a grim aspect to this. Many if not all of the hostages have been starved for months and are barely alive.
Presumably Hamas is now feeding them better, but likely without proper medical attention. A starving person must be brought back on a careful diet or die.
As one may recall from the WW II movies in which Americans liberate a concentration camp, the GIs start giving food to the ex-inmates, and the CO has to stop them until medical supervision can be arranged.
Hamas are the Nazis here.
Either they are trying to keep them alive for at least a smidgen of good pr (not that their supporters care), as huxley said, or they are going another route for maximum vengeance, which is more in character.
Unless Israel has some independent information about how many hostages currently are still living, my feeling is that Hamas will return all of them only when they are dead.