The three Israeli male hostages released on Feb. 8 by Hamas were so emaciated and frail that images broadcast from the Gaza Strip sent shockwaves throughout Israel and the world. Their appearance was eerily reminiscent of Holocaust survivors upon the liberation of German Nazi concentration camps in 1945. The men were malnourished and mistreated. One learned after he was freed that his entire family had been murdered in the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The condition of the hostages fueled greater uncertainty as to whether the ceasefire deal will hold until all captives are freed. Under Hamas rule, Gaza has become a cesspool of terror, devastation and human suffering. U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced his proposed solution to releasing the hostages; ending the war; and rebuilding the coastal enclave, including the relocation of Palestinians to neighboring Arab countries and U.S. control of Gaza. The plan sparked a wide range of responses—from hopeful support to outright condemnation.
Following these announcements and reactions, Hamas announced that it would delay the next release until further notice, alleging ceasefire violations by Israel. In response, Israel has raised its alert level and significantly strengthened its Gaza border defenses. Trump issued a warning in response: “As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at noon, I think it’s an appropriate time. I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out.”
He concluded his remarks by leaving the final decision to Israel.
Hostages terrorized and humiliated during their release
As part of the Hamas ritual for hostage releases, the three Israeli men—Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami—were paraded on stage at the Saturday ceremony standing next to their torturers. They were taunted and humiliated before a cheering crowd while holding certificates and “gift bags”—mementos of their captivity in Gaza. Many of the released hostages recounted severe physical and psychological violence, and assaults and humiliation, including being forced to eat rotted food. From taunts of fake imminent release to regular threats of execution, they were held in a constant state of terror.
One hostage said his captors “treated us like animals.” Or Levy told his family: “I was bound in a dark tunnel, without air, without light. I couldn’t stand or walk, and only toward the time of the release did the terrorists remove the chains and I learned to walk again.” The hostages were unable to distinguish between day and night.
Or Levy lost 44 pounds during his Gaza captivity, despite being held in tunnels near where humanitarian aid was stored. The hostages had to convince their captors to allow them to relieve themselves more than once a day, were only allowed to shower every few months and went barefoot for 491 days.
While Israelis and Jews worldwide celebrated the hostage release, many Palestinians cheered the release of 183 terrorists, some serving life sentences. Some media shamefully made a false equivalence between the condition of Hamas prisoners and the Israeli hostages with grossly inaccurate and offensive comparisons. Israel feeds prisoners three meals per day, provides them medical care, visits from family and other basic human rights.
Freed hostages face new horrors
“Where is Hersh?” was the first question Or Levy asked after his release, believing that his friend, Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, kidnapped from the same roadside shelter as he had been, had been released and was alive, only to learn that Hersh had been murdered in Hamas captivity. Also upon his release, Levy learned that his wife had been murdered on Oct. 7.
Eli Sharabi was reunited with his mother and sister, who had to tell him the tragic reason that his wife and teenage daughters were not there to welcome him home: They had all been murdered on Oct. 7. During his release from Gaza, Sharabi was given a scripted statement to read from the Hamas stage, announcing to the jeering terrorists and supporters in the crowd that he was “very happy to return” to his wife and daughters. Hamas already knew they were dead and forced him to make this declaration—a final “parting gift” of psychological torture.
On Oct. 7, Or Levy’s 1-year-old son, Almog, had both parents ripped from his life. His mother was killed by Hamas terrorists, and his father was kidnapped and taken to Gaza for 491 days. Almog recently celebrated his third birthday without his parents. When reunited with his father, Almog said: “Dad, it took you a long time to come back.”
Restructure plan for Gaza: The facts so far
During his recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced that Israel should hand over Gaza to the United States at the end of the war. He said the United States should take control of the Strip and relocate Palestinians to Arab countries. Trump envisioned a “Riviera in the Middle East,” yet it would take 10 to 15 years to rebuild Gaza.
Trump suggested permanently resettling all Gazans in several countries, including Jordan, Egypt and Spain. All Arab countries have firmly refused to accept any Palestinians. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar have voiced opposition to removing Palestinians from Gaza. Saudi Arabia announced that the conditions for normalizing relations with Israel had not changed and required a Palestinian state. Egypt called the plan a “red line” that would threaten national security and its peace treaty with Israel. Hamas called on Arab factions to unite and “resist the displacement.” While some Palestinians were already considering leaving Gaza even before the war, many flatly stated that they will remain living in tents and never leave.
A diversity of views exists on the plan among U.S. elected officials and Jewish communal leaders. Some applaud it as a viable alternative while others flatly reject the concept. Many Israelis see the plan as a welcome end to decades of regional conflict, in addition to a way to ensure peace and security on one of Israel’s borders. Some families of hostages still held in Gaza worry that the plan will jeopardize the hostage deal. Free hostage Yarden Bibas is “clinging to hope,” waiting for news of his wife and two young sons, who are still being held hostage in Gaza and slated for release in the current phase of the ceasefire.
Netanyahu applauded the president’s plan and called it “revolutionary, creative and much better for Israel” than the alternatives. While the ideas floated by Trump made international headlines, no other world leader or country has come forward with any new suggestion, causing some observers to suspect that Trump was merely throwing out a “wild card” with the hopes of eliciting other concepts.
Points to consider:
- Hamas exploits psychological warfare and manipulates public opinion.
Hamas deliberately uses Israeli hostages as tools of psychological warfare, choreographing publicized exchanges to project strength and instill fear. These staged events manipulate public opinion and aim to demoralize and traumatize Israelis. By exploiting innocent lives, Hamas showcases its priorities: propaganda and terror over humanity. Its media strategy of filming their acts of terror glorifies its brutality. The world must see the truth behind the Hamas manipulation and exploitation of Israeli and Palestinian lives.
- The hostages and their families have displayed extraordinary resilience.
The hostages endured unimaginable physical and emotional abuse with strength and perseverance. Their long-overdue return is a testament to their survival against all odds. Their families were steadfast in their resilience, engaging in tireless advocacy and maintaining hope amid unbearable uncertainty. This spirit embodies the heart of Israeli society—a commitment to protect every human life. Although reunions bring relief, they also demonstrate the immense suffering inflicted by Hamas. These stories remind the world of the human cost of terror and the unbreakable spirit of those who endure it.
- Supporting Hamas perpetuates terrorism, not peaceful coexistence.
Protesters in America and other democratic countries that stand with Hamas are aligned with terror and unimaginable evil. The Iranian-backed terror group prioritizes violence and hatred over the welfare of Palestinians and the pursuit of peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Defending Hamas entrenches Palestinian suffering, devastates communities and derails any hope for a peaceful Middle East. Every dollar, word or action in favor of Hamas, whether from an American university student or a European or Australian demonstrator, strengthens a regime that thrives on oppression and destruction. True support for Palestinians requires rejecting Hamas.
- Fight inhumanity by being humane.
Those who value human rights, moral decency and treating others with dignity and respect must boldly speak up both online and offline when confronting baseless hate, bigotry, and cruel or inhumane treatment. Hamas propaganda videos and images of hostages being paraded on international media like animals at auction should turn stomachs and offend anyone with basic values. We must not look away. We all share a collective responsibility to use our voices and defend those being targeted by cruelty; otherwise, hate is emboldened.