Cheer for deal thatll bring hostages home and pray Israel is allowed to defeat Hamas once theyre back

A Gaza cease-fire deal will free 33 hostages from Hamas’ brutal grip — Hooray! The first should be released in days, with more to follow, in the agreement’s first phase.It’s a dream come true — for them, their families and their fellow countrymen.And a huge win for America’s next president, Donald Trump, whose threats that “all hell will break out” if the captivity continued clearly sealed the deal.Kudos, too, to his and Biden’s aides, who worked cooperatively to push the deal into the end zone.And to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: The military pressure he kept up against Hamas — despite relentless calls (including from Team Biden) to stand down — also helped forced the terrorist group to sign on.Yes, the deal has risks: Israel is to withdraw its forces from populated areas of Gaza, relieving Hamas of military concerns.Ultimately, Jerusalem may free more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including cold-blooded murderers; some may join Hamas in new attacks, just as Yahya Sinwar planned the Oct.7 massacre after he was freed in a hostage deal years ago.Worse, the terror group remains alive for now and, though severely weakened, retains much power over Gaza.Worse still, it’s been recruiting new fighters: Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the rookies have nearly replaced Hamas’ losses.The biggest risk: Phase 2 calls Israeli forces to leave all of Gaza to get the remaining hostages freed (for more Palestinian prisoners) as the temporary cease-fire becomes permanent.Yet letting Hamas not only survive in Gaza, but likely control it, would be a nightmare.President Biden even claims the cease-fire will remain in place if the parties can’t reach an agreement on Phase 2 after Phase 1 expires in 42 days, as long as negotiations continue.

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