President Trump really, really, really, REALLY wants this peace deal. The Israeli public want the peace deal because they want the hostages back. But is Hamas going to follow through?

We already have covered the details of the peace deal, and what it involves. Initially, it seemed inevitable that Hamas would reject it out of hand. Then Hamas said they would agree to the deal, EXCEPT for that “release the hostages in 72 hours” thing and the “lay down your weapons and you won’t be a part of the rebuilding” bit. As a result, there were legitimate concerns that Trump’s desire for a peace deal would lead everyone into some very murky waters.

That may still happen, but the president was very vocal about what he expected Hamas to do. He had set a deadline of 6 pm Eastern Time on Sunday for Hamas to accept the deal. That deadline came and went. It seems that President Trump, for better or worse at the moment, considers the peace deal to be “in process.”

Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 05:56 PM EST 10/05/25

There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have…

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) October 5, 2025

The full post reads:

There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East. These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly. The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details. I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST. I will continue to monitor this Centuries old “conflict.” TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW — SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!

So, yes to peace, but not “peace at any price”? Trump’s initial goal is to get the hostages out, which is Israel’s ultimate goal as well. When will that deadline be? No one knows yet.

Hamas has claimed in the past that they don’t know where all the hostages are. Miraculously, they now claim to be handing over a list of all the hostages that they currently are holding in captivity, living and dead. (Like they would actually “lose” their remaining bargaining chips.) There are now also concerns that Hamas may try to “overfeed” the hostages so they don’t look like Holocaust victims, and Israel has asked the Red Cross to talk to Hamas about that. You know, because the Red Cross has been SO HELPFUL when it comes to being glorified Uber drivers for Hamas.

The real question is, will Hamas follow through on their end of the deal? Releasing hostages is only one part of that deal. Hamas was supposed to get back hundreds of terrorists in return. Reportedly, they are asking for terrorists that Israel has zero intention of giving up. This is raising suspicions that Hamas may be trying to sabotage the deal.

Citing Hamas sources, Channel 12 reported that among the terrorists Hamas is demanding are Marwan Barghouti, the Fatah Tanzim chief serving five life sentences for his part in planning three terror attacks that killed five Israelis during the Second Intifada, and Ahmad Sa’adat, leader of the Marxist-Leninist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), who was sentenced in 2008 to 30 years behind bars for masterminding the 2001 assassination of Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Ze’evi.

Hamas was also demanding the release of Ibrahim Hamed, serving 45 life terms for orchestrating the killings of numerous Israelis as Hamas’s West Bank commander during the Second Intifada, Abbas al-Sayed, who orchestrated the 2002 bombing at the Park Hotel in Netanya in which 39 Israelis were killed, and Hamas’s Hassan Salameh, who is serving 48 life terms for plotting multiple suicide bombings.

Channel 12 cited a Hamas source saying the terror group “won’t give up” on securing the release of these and other life-term terrorists, even at the cost of dooming the deal.”

In a separate, unsourced report, the network said Hamas is also demanding that Israel release terrorists from Hamas’s elite Nukhba force, who took part in the terror group’s October 7, 2023, invasion and massacre — a demand Israel has consistently rejected.

The Hamas negotiating team has arrived in Egypt to begin talks. President Trump wants this deal to be wrapped up immediately, so phase one – the release of all remaining hostages – can take place. Is Hamas really willing to give up the hostages, or will their demands end up tanking the entire deal? We all know that Hamas cannot be trusted. It is typical of President Trump – who wants peace, and the credit for it – to rush the cart before the horse when it comes to big, grandiose announcements.

When you say Hamas has 72 hours to release the hostages and accept the deal, you should stick to that.

This waffling now to "phases" and the "first phase being done this week" is not a good sign. It's exactly what some of us said would happen.

Hamas does not want peace.

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) October 6, 2025

Sadly, I think we had better expect another shoe to drop before Hamas hands over any hostages. They’re stalling for time, dangling a “peace” carrot in front of President Trump in order to get Israel to back down. They started this war two years ago, tomorrow. That we are still being forced to play their games is beyond infuriating – it could literally cost the lives of the remaining hostages. I am very much hoping that President Trump is keeping these peace negotiations on the shortest leash possible, with real consequences for missing deadlines. Otherwise, the end result could be too awful to consider for the hostages.

Featured image by Hadi Mohammad for FARS News Agency via Wikimedia Commons, cropped, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0 DEED)