Rep. Moran reacts to return of Israeli hostages, ceasefire
Posted/updated on: October 16, 2025 at 9:32 am
TYLER – The world is breathing a sigh of relief this evening as 20 Israeli hostages are now back with their families. This comes as a result of President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, ending the bloody two-year conflict overseas that’s claimed nearly 70,000 lives. The first phase of this peace plan calls for Israel to pull back troops to an agreed line, with Israel still retaining control of over 53% of the land in Gaza.
President Trump said Gaza will now be governed by an international ‘Board of Peace’. The board will be focused on rebuilding Gaza, while a future permanent government is determined. Congressman Nathaniel Moran of East Texas agrees with this strategy, saying this “peace through strength plan” is critical to keeping peace in the Middle East.
“We’ve got to be with them across the sea,” Moran told our news partner KETK. “We can’t just wait for it to come to our borders.” Moran added that the top priority now is to provide the immediate resources needed, to help families impacted by this deadly conflict to get back up on their feet.
“I think the United States is going to continue to maintain peace so long as we remain strong on the world stage,” Moran said. “When we take ourselves out of the conversation, when we really become isolationists in our mindset, that is not good for the world.”
In August, Moran spoke to KETK News about his recent visit to Israel and he said the United States should stand with Israel and eradicate Hamas.
“We’ve got to stand with Israel,” Moran said in August. “We’ve got to eradicate the Hamas terrorists, the Hezbollah terrorists, the Houthi terrorists, that don’t desire peace for any peoples in the region.”
Rabbi Katz is glad the violence is over but said he never lost hope as East Texas came together to pray for peace.
“Our congregation attendance has increased. We have an online community, we have an in-person community,” Katz said. “Look, it’s increased for the very simple reason that when you are set upon by the outside world, when there are external factors that are challenging you and pushing you and threatening you, you cohere internally.”
