In the months following the October 7, 2023, terror attack against Israel, protests and demonstrations in support of the terrorists broke out on college and university campuses across the United States.
The ceasefire agreement, advanced by President Donald Trump, came into effect in Gaza today, hours after Israel's Cabinet approved a deal to pause the fighting and exchange the remaining hostages for Palestinian prisoners – a key step toward ending the two-year war that started when Hamas massacred more than 1,200 Israeli men, women, and children and kidnapped more than 200 others.
"This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace," Trump wrote on social media when both sides agreed to the "first phase" of his peace plan.
Zachary Marschall of Campus Reform says he has not seen "anything of note" from the campus Left in reaction to the deal. In the protestors' minds, a ceasefire meant Israel capitulating.
"I think it's knocked the wind out of their sails because they have been calling for a ceasefire this whole time; they just never thought it would come from Trump," he tells American Family News.
Still, he believes the deal can have a positive impact domestically.
"If there's no more war in Gaza, a lot of people who were just kind of mindlessly participating in these protests are going to not have a reason to protest anymore," Marschall reasons. "I think it is going to curb and lessen the protesters on campus even more, so it's potentially a very good thing."
Meanwhile, though Hamas has agreed to release all 48 remaining hostages within 72 hours, it is having trouble locating the bodies of those who have perished. Israel is hesitant to release certain high-profile Palestinian prisoners it considers "national symbols" or a severe security risk.
Marschall, who is Jewish, adds that though he is optimistic and glad a deal was reached, he personally thinks it is "too soon to celebrate."
Unsure of how stable the agreement is, he is cognizant of the reality that "this type of thing can fall apart at a minute's notice."
