The Bitter Envy: How the Left and Pro-Palestinian Activists Refuse to Credit Trump for Ending the Gaza War

By Matthew Narh Tetteh

In a world where political tribalism often eclipses truth, the recent triumph in the Middle East stands as a stark reminder of ideological blind spots. For two grueling years, since Hamas’s barbaric October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that claimed over 1,200 lives and led to the abduction of 251 hostages, the left and so-called pro-Palestinian activists have dominated global headlines with relentless calls for an immediate ceasefire. Their protests filled streets from New York to London, painted murals on university walls, and even disrupted major events, all under the banner of “peace now.” Yet, when President Donald Trump delivered exactly that—a comprehensive deal that ended the war, secured the release of all remaining hostages, and ushered in a fragile but hopeful dawn—the silence from these quarters has been deafening. No praise, no acknowledgment, just a seething undercurrent of resentment. This isn’t mere oversight; it’s a toxic brew of jealousy, ideological rigidity, and, at its core, an undercurrent of antisemitism that has long tainted their cause.

Let’s rewind the tape. For 24 months, the war in Gaza raged, claiming Palestinian lives amid Hamas’s use of civilians as human shields and Israel’s determined campaign to dismantle the terror group’s infrastructure. Pro-Palestinian activists, often aligned with progressive left-wing groups, amplified their demands through viral campaigns, campus occupations, and high-profile endorsements from celebrities and politicians. “Ceasefire now!” became their mantra, a slogan that echoed in chants and social media storms. They accused Israel of “genocide,” ignored Hamas’s charter calling for Jewish extermination, and framed any Israeli military action as disproportionate aggression.

Enter Donald J. Trump. Upon his return to the White House, the 47th President wasted no time. In a bold 20-point peace plan unveiled last month, Trump outlined a path to end the conflict: phased ceasefires, hostage releases, Israeli withdrawals, and—crucially—Hamas’s disarmament and commitment to non-violence. What followed was nothing short of diplomatic wizardry. Through relentless “maximum pressure” negotiations—leveraging U.S. alliances with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey—Trump secured buy-in from both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders. By October 9, 2025, the first phase was locked in: Israel paused operations, withdrew to agreed lines, and Hamas will begin releasing the 20 remaining living hostages (plus remains of the deceased) in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

On October 12, as the ceasefire held for a third day, Trump declared from Air Force One: “The war in Gaza has ended and the Middle East is going to ‘normalize.'” Hamas’s chief negotiator echoed this, confirming the deal as a “permanent end” to hostilities, backed by U.S. guarantees against Israeli resumption. Palestinians began returning to northern Gaza, a tentative step toward rebuilding. In Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, families reunited amid tears and cheers—a scene the activists once protested for, now realized under Trump’s stewardship.

But where are the victory laps from the ceasefire crusaders? Crickets. Instead, scattered posts on social media dismiss the deal as “temporary” or accuse Trump of “bias toward Israel.” No rallies in celebration, no op-eds hailing the end of suffering. This refusal to praise isn’t about policy nuance; it’s personal. Trump, the outsider who upended their narrative, has exposed their hypocrisy.

The crowning moment came on October 13, 2025, when Trump touched down in Israel for a hero’s welcome. Accompanied by Jared Kushner and a delegation of U.S. officials, he was greeted at Ben Gurion Airport by Netanyahu and throngs of supporters waving “Trump the Peacemaker” signs. The centerpiece: Trump’s address to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament—the first by a sitting U.S. president since George W. Bush.

In a speech interrupted only briefly by hecklers from Israel’s far-left (one brandishing a “Recognize Palestine” banner and swiftly removed), Trump painted a vision of renewal. “The hostages are back! It feels so good to say it,” he proclaimed, invoking the “cruelty of October 7” that “struck the heart of humanity.” He hailed the deal as the end of a “long and painful nightmare,” crediting Israeli resolve and American leadership for a “historic dawn of a new Middle East.” Netanyahu, in introducing him, declared Trump had done “more for Israel than any other president.” Even opposition leader Yair Lapid joined the applause.

From there, Trump jetted to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, for a summit with 20 world leaders, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, to ink the next phases. Yet, back home, left-leaning outlets like The Guardian and Al Jazeera focused on “devil in the details” caveats, while pro-Palestinian X accounts seethed with claims of “occupation unchanged.” Jealousy? Absolutely. Trump didn’t just broker peace; he owned it, turning a quagmire into a legacy-defining win.

Amid the left’s sullen silence, a chorus of voices has risen to celebrate Trump’s masterstroke, cutting through the noise with unfiltered praise. Ben Shapiro, the conservative commentator and Daily Wire co-founder, led the charge with a blistering podcast episode titled “Trump’s Triumph: Peace in Gaza, Left in Tears.” Shapiro, a staunch Israel supporter, declared, “Trump did what the UN, Biden, and every bleeding-heart activist couldn’t—ended a war while strengthening Israel’s hand. The silence from the left isn’t confusion; it’s envy.” His analysis, shared with his millions-strong audience, framed the ceasefire as a rebuke to “woke moralizing” that ignored Hamas’s terror tactics.

Laura Ingraham, the Fox News firebrand, echoed this on The Ingraham Angle, devoting an entire segment to “Trump’s Middle East Miracle.” She lambasted the left’s refusal to credit Trump, saying, “They screamed for peace but won’t applaud the man who delivered it. Why? Because it’s Trump, and their hatred blinds them to the hostages home and the bombs stopped.” Ingraham’s guest, former Trump advisor Stephen Miller, piled on, calling the deal “a masterclass in American strength” and the left’s silence “a tantrum of sore losers.”

Even Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat known for his maverick pro-Israel stance that often breaks with his party’s left wing, joined the praise. In a rare alignment with conservative sentiment, Fetterman took to X to commend the deal: “Trump got it done—hostages freed, war over. The left’s quiet because they can’t handle a win that doesn’t fit their script. He has constantly stood with Israel since October 7, 2023, by consistently defending Israel’s right to self-defense.

If the silence on the deal stings, the Nobel Peace Prize announcement three days earlier was a slap in the face. On October 10, as ceasefire talks intensified, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2025 prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado for her democracy advocacy. Noble work, to be sure—but timed amid Trump’s breakthrough, it reeked of political maneuvering. Trump, who has mediated four Arab-Israeli peace deals in his first term and now this Gaza masterstroke, was the elephant in the room. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung fired back: “The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”

Machado herself dedicated the award to Trump, praising his “decisive support” for global peace efforts. Even Barack Obama, the 2009 recipient, congratulated her while subtly nodding to broader struggles. But the snub underscores a twisted agenda: the Committee, long criticized for left-leaning biases (remember Obama’s award before major achievements?), overlooked the man who actually stopped a war killing tens of thousands.

This isn’t sour grapes; it’s a credibility crisis. The Nobel, once a beacon of impartiality, now mirrors the left’s playbook: reward symbols over substance, activism over results. For those of us who value facts over feelings, Trump is the rightful laureate—our “winner” in spirit, if not in Oslo’s eyes. As Shapiro quipped on X, “Trump’s en route to the Knesset while the Nobel crew picks a sidekick. Establishment jealousy at its finest.”

Beneath the jealousy lies something darker. The left’s and pro-Palestinians’ protests weren’t just about ceasefires; they often veered into antisemitic territory—equating Zionism with racism, glorifying “intifada,” and harassing Jewish students on campuses. Their “solidarity” with Palestinians conveniently ignored Hamas’s rockets fired from schools and hospitals. Now, with peace at hand, their refusal to credit Trump—who stood unapologetically with Israel—reveals the intent: not genuine humanitarianism, but a zero-sum game where Israel’s security is the enemy.

This is the evil at play: a movement that cheered endless war under the guise of justice, only to sulk when it ends on terms favoring the Jewish state. True peace advocates would celebrate lives saved, hostages freed, and bombs silenced. Instead, they cling to grievance, their antisemitism exposed in the bargain.

To those who support Israel and the light of common sense—Am Yisrael Chai! Trump’s deal isn’t flawless; thorns like Hamas disarmament and Gaza governance remain. But it’s a foundation for a stronger, safer Israel: normalized ties expanding, threats neutralized, and a region tilting toward stability. Under Trump’s vision, the Jewish state doesn’t just survive—it thrives, a beacon against the darkness.

The left’s envy? Let them stew. History will judge peacemakers by deeds, not Nobel trinkets. Trump broke the cycle, ended the war, and visited the Knesset as a liberator—backed by Shapiro, Ingraham, and even Fetterman, who see through the fog. Israel will emerge greater, and the world, wiser for it. Blessed are the dealmakers.

Matthew Narh Tetteh, Author of The Modern Jewish State of Israel: The Jews and Israel. matthewtettehnarh47@gmail.com / +233558790632