Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, a Muslim reformist and co-founder of the Muslim Reform Movement, has argued that President Donald Trump’s strategy for achieving lasting peace in the Middle East must include the complete and unconditional surrender of Hamas and the Palestinian people. Jasser, a former U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, contends that the only path to true peace is to eliminate Islamic extremism, which he describes as a death cult that has led to decades of violence and hatred toward Israel and the Jewish people.
In a recent speech, Jasser criticized the international community for failing to compel the Palestinians to accept defeat after repeated military losses, including the brutal Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. He compares this to the post-WWII experiences of Germany and Japan, where unconditional surrender was a necessary step toward modernity. Jasser argues that Hamas, a theocratic Islamist organization linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and similar to the Iranian Revolution, has deep-rooted anti-Semitic ideology and must be dismantled.
Jasser also warns against the influence of state-sponsored media like Al Jazeera, which he claims spreads Islamist radicalism and supports groups such as Hamas, the Taliban, and ISIS. He advocates for a transformation beyond alliances with Arab nations, emphasizing the need to address the ideological roots of the conflict rather than merely seeking superficial agreements. Jasser’s call for unconditional surrender reflects a broader effort to redefine Islamic identity in the 21st century, promoting modernity and democracy over theocratic rule.