Two things can be true at the same time. President Donald Trump and his foreign-policy team deserve enormous credit for brokering a ceasefire that achieved the release of the final 20 living hostages held by Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023.

It’s also the case that much of what the administration is saying about implementing and maintaining the ceasefire is not merely unrealistic. It may actually be giving the Hamas terrorists the impression that they can get away without disarming or giving up control of Gaza and validating their claims that they have won the war they started two years ago.

The Trump administration has been sending mixed messages about the situation in Gaza since the first stage of the ceasefire deal it brokered was put into effect. On one hand, the president, as well as his ad

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