Cotton Trashes Gaza Ceasefire

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has strongly criticized the recent ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas, arguing that it falls short of what should be the only acceptable outcome: Hamas’s unconditional surrender and the return of all hostages. His comments, made on social media, came ahead of the full details of the agreement and as both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump sought to claim credit for the deal.

Cotton raised concerns about why President Biden, in the final months of his presidency, was pushing a deal that could potentially compromise Israel’s security. He questioned the terms of the agreement, particularly the demands that Israel withdraw from key areas of Gaza and release numerous terrorists in exchange for the return of only some hostages. For Cotton, this deal appeared to reward terrorism and could undermine Israel’s position.

Cotton proposed a much stronger stance, calling for a clear ultimatum to Hamas: release all hostages within a set time frame, or face serious military consequences. He argued that a more forceful approach, rather than offering concessions, would send a much stronger message to Hamas and its backers, including Iran. He emphasized that the U.S. should not negotiate with terrorists but rather hold them accountable for their actions.

Meanwhile, former President Trump, using his Truth Social platform, claimed credit for the progress in securing the release of hostages, stating that a deal was now in place. His statement came before Biden’s public remarks on the matter, adding to the political jockeying over the deal.

The agreement announced aims to secure the release of several hostages, including American citizens, and provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, critics like Cotton argue that this approach could lead to a dangerous precedent, rewarding terrorism with concessions rather than ensuring justice and security for Israel. Many Republicans believe that the only real path to peace lies in the complete defeat of Hamas, not in negotiations that may embolden them further.