10/11/2025
Dr. Craig Hartman's insight and comments about the new twenty point peace agreement brojered by the Trump administration between Israel and Hammas.
October 10, 2025
Greetings friends,
We greatly rejoice in the news that today the Israeli government approved President Trump’s 20-Point Plan for bringing an end to the war in Gaza. The news is being met with jubilation in Israel and around the world, especially among the families of the remaining hostages. This has the potential to be a major event in Middle East history as well as possibly the beginning of a new era in the entire region. Much credit is due to President Trump and his negotiating team, particularly Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. We must remember, however, that the events of the last few weeks did not happen in a vacuum. The ground was laid in President Trump’s first term with the Abraham Accords and more recently with Israel’s elimination of the leadership of Hezbollah and Hamas and other terrorists who, through beepers exploding and other means, are in their afterlives and no longer a threat to anyone. Iran was significantly defanged by the United States, which was also a significant factor in getting the parties to the table. Furthermore, Israel’s current initiative in Gaza has created the reality that Hamas knows that it will be eliminated in the short term if they do not agree to something that will stop Israel from advancing. Much of Gaza is completely destroyed and what is left of Gaza City is surrounded by the IDF, and there is nowhere for Hamas and the people of Gaza to go. Hamas’ options are limited, and so it has apparently become willing to agree to the 20-Point Plan.
We must remember, however, that the jubilation is mixed with great sadness and is bittersweet. Sadness because many of the remaining hostages are deceased and some of their physical remains may never be recovered. The attention being given to the end of the war is also causing the news agencies to replay footage from the carnage of October 7, 2023, which is very unsettling to say the least, though it is necessary. Another documentary about the attack has very recently been released as well so the horror of that awful day is before the eyes of the world again. Furthermore, the release of hostages will be tied to the release of around 2,000 Palestinian criminals and murderers, which is a difficult reality for Israel to bear, though it is one they have borne many times. Let us not forget that in 2011, Israel released around 1,000 violent criminals to return one hostage: Gilad Shalit. Among those 1,000 prisoners was Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7 attack.
As the elements of the peace plan are implemented, there are several things to watch in particular. Hamas is supposed to release all the remaining hostages, whether alive or not. The hostages are the only leverage that Hamas has. They may play games in retaining some hostages or be vague about being able to produce deceased hostages. We must remember that not only does Hamas come from a culture of death, but they are also a part of a culture of lying. They lie continuously and can never be trusted. What percentage of Israel’s responsibilities under the agreement will be forced on Israel even if Hamas does not honor 100% of its obligations? The world community will turn on Israel at the slightest deviation without a doubt. The understanding is that Israel’s obligations begin only after the release of the hostages. We shall see if that is true. Beyond the return of the hostages, there are two points in the plan that are the most critical in my view. All the points are important, but these two go to the heart of what the outcome will be. One is the requirement that Hamas completely disarm. That will not happen easily, and I doubt it will happen at all. We will see if completely truly means completely and what full disarmament is considered to be by the various parties. Differences of opinion in the definition of these terms could be very consequential. The second key point is that the agreement requires Hamas to have absolutely no role in governing Gaza after Israel ultimately pulls out. Israel removed all Jewish citizens from Gaza in 2005. Hamas took complete control of Gaza in 2007 after an “election” in 2006, which was deemed fair and transparent by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and after a brief conflict with Fatah in 2007. Hamas has ruled there for nearly twenty years with no oversight or accountability. They will not give that up easily and will likely try to retain power in overt or perhaps unseen ways. Of course, the decision on who will lead Gaza in the future is important as well, but that may be tied in various ways with whether Hamas truly is removed from Gaza. Many other issues have to be addressed, but these two (beyond the return of the hostages) seem to me to be the most critical for long-term success of any agreement and should be monitored very carefully.
In the excitement surrounding the announcements that have been made over the last few days, I have heard numerous people quoting Matthew 5:9 (“Blessed are the peacemakers . . .”), including unsaved Jewish people in Israel. Unfortunately, the quote is typically cited by an unbeliever and usually leaves out the second half of the verse, which indicates that the peacemakers will be called sons of God. These quotes are primarily directed at President Trump but also others involved with the negotiations, so clearly, they are being taken out of context. Further, President Trump has said multiple times that this agreement will be the beginning of everlasting peace in the region. I appreciate his enthusiasm and optimism (and he has been a phenomenal friend to Israel and the Jewish people), but we who know the truth must guard against that kind of thinking. Everlasting peace can only come with the glorious return of our Messiah Jesus when He establishes His kingdom on Earth at the end of the 70th week of Daniel. That is a future event and, while the effects of current events may continue past the Rapture and into the 70th week, the current peace agreement being negotiated is not going to usher in everlasting peace. Moreover, this agreement, even if completely implemented in full, does not qualify President Trump to be a candidate for the Antichrist. The agreement that Antichrist makes with Israel as mentioned in Ez. 38 will create a peace that will put them at rest as a “land of unwalled villages” and will be entered into after the Rapture. Israel can hardly be described as currently existing under such a peace, and the events of Ez. 38 as well as the Rapture are future events. We can, however, view the events of recent days as a picture of what the geopolitical situation in the world might be like in that day when Antichrist does enter into a peace treaty with Israel and the potential ramifications that might flow from that.
Let us rejoice with the people of Israel if the hostages are released. Let us also thank God for the good work being done by the president and his team and that he was raised up by God to lead us and the world at this time. However, let us be sober about the realities of evil and the craftiness of our adversary. Let us also be careful with God’s word as the world around us that hates our God misappropriates His word.
Please do continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and especially for the hostage families and the returning hostages. Life will be challenging for quite some time for them. We must also pray for our governmental leaders and those of Israel as the world moves forward in a potentially unprecedented way. Let us also use this time to be energized about reaching out to Jewish and Muslim friends and neighbors with the gospel of Yeshua, which does in fact bring everlasting peace to all who believe.
In Messiah,
Craig Hartman
Shalom Ministries Inc.
