I do not waant Trump or Qatar or the UN to broker a ceasefire with Hamas. I want he savages from October 7th to surrender. Opinion.
From Scud Missiles to Sovereignty: 35 Years of Aliyah, Faith, and an Unyielding Israeli Spirit
It’s been 35 years since my wife, children, and I made Aliyah to our eternal homeland. In July 1990, we stepped off the plane full of hope and excitement, ready to build a new life in Eretz Yisrael. Divine timing, it seems, had something else in store. Just a month later, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait with 140,000 Iraqi soldiers and 18,000 tanks—setting off a regional firestorm that would soon reach our doorstep.
On January 17, 1991, Operation Desert Storm began with massive U.S. airstrikes, and less than 24 hours later, Saddam responded with his own twisted “Welcome to Israel” gift: the first of many Scud missiles launched at Israeli cities. I used to joke, “Thanks, Saddam… but we’re not going anywhere.” And Baruch HaShem, 35 years later—we’re still here, while Saddam? Let’s just say history took care of that chapter.
But the story doesn’t stop at war and survival. It’s about conviction. It’s about knowing where we belong. America’s response to Saddam—led by President George H. W. Bush and Defense Secretary Dick Cheney—was not one of hesitation or compromise. When world leaders called for a ceasefire after Iraq agreed to seven out of ten conditions, Cheney delivered one of the boldest, clearest statements ever spoken on the world stage:
“In the history of the world, when did the loser ever dictate terms to the winner?”
He continued, “This war will not end until Iraq accepts all 10 of our conditions… the last one being complete and total surrender.”
That is leadership. That is clarity. That is victory—not a deal, not a truce, not a 70% acceptance. Full surrender.
Fast forward to April 11, 1991, at 10:00 PM EST. Saddam surrendered. Every condition was met. The war ended on America’s terms.
That’s the model Israel must follow today.
The horrific atrocities of October 7th cannot be negotiated away. Hamas doesn’t get to suggest ceasefires, negotiate ransom, or extract concessions. We must demand what is just, what is moral, and what is non-negotiable: total surrender. That includes the unconditional return of every hostage, living or murdered. That includes the dismantling of every terror tunnel, the seizure of every weapon, and the complete collapse of the jihadist infrastructure in Gaza.
This is not a fantasy. This is faith. The day we truly internalize that Eretz Yisrael is Hashem’s gift to Am Yisrael—and that He entrusted us to defend it without fear or apology—is the day victory becomes inevitable. Not “understanding,” not “compromise,” but decisive Jewish sovereignty rooted in divine promise.
We were not brought back to this land to be pushed around, nor to ask terrorists to “play nice” for 60 days while they rearm. We’re here to build, to flourish, and to ensure every Jewish life is protected with pride and purpose.
This is why the only acceptable end to this war is not a ceasefire—it is surrender. No half-measures, no plea bargains. Just like Saddam, our enemies will one day be forced to accept every one of our terms. And may that day come soon, bimheira b’yameinu.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Shmuel Sackett is the Founder and Director of the Am Yisrael Chai Fund, which supports agricultural, educational and building projects across Eretz Yisrael.www.AmYisraelChaiFund.org
