In a searing moment of truth during his Oval Office briefing with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump laid bare the horrific reality faced by Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Reflecting on a recent meeting with survivors of Hamas captivity, Trump revealed that he had asked them a simple yet powerful question: “Was there any sign of love? Did Hamas show any signs of help, kindness, even a crumb of mercy?”
The answer, he said, was chilling in its clarity: “They said—no… they slapped us.”
No Mercy, No Humanity
Trump’s remarks expose a vital truth about the nature of Israel’s enemy in Gaza. Hamas is not a resistance movement, and its war is not political. It is pure, unfiltered hatred, driven by a genocidal ideology that glorifies the suffering of Jews. The testimonies of released hostages are harrowing—they speak of starvation, physical abuse, sexual violence, and psychological torture at the hands of Hamas terrorists.
Trump’s comparison to Germany was telling. In referencing the Nazis—who, despite their barbarity, were sometimes known to offer basic rations to prisoners—he underscored just how barbaric Hamas is in comparison. These terrorists offered no bread, no water, no mercy—only beatings, humiliation, and hatred.
The World’s Silence is Deafening
Despite these crimes, the international community continues to pressure Israel to “show restraint” and make concessions. Human rights organizations remain largely silent about the inhumane treatment of hostages, refusing to hold Hamas accountable for crimes that would spark global outrage if committed by any other actor.
Trump’s bluntness, by contrast, cuts through the fog of moral relativism. He refuses to whitewash Hamas’ atrocities or pretend that these are two equal sides in a political conflict. “They slapped us,” he repeated, quoting the hostages’ words. No extra food. No compassion. No humanity.
A Moral Imperative to Defeat Evil
The Hamas regime must not be allowed to survive. Its treatment of hostages is not a side effect of war—it is a central part of its strategy. These were not prisoners of war. They were civilians—women, children, elderly people—kidnapped from their homes during the October 7 massacre, dragged into Gaza, and hidden in tunnels under hospitals and mosques.
Israel is not fighting a war of revenge—it is fighting a war of survival. And the testimony of the hostages proves that peace will never come until Hamas is dismantled completely. President Trump’s words reflect a reality that much of the world refuses to confront: there is no compromise with monsters who beat civilians instead of feeding them.
The Path Forward
As Trump continues to lead America’s support for Israel, his administration is making clear that no deal will be made with terrorists. There is no path to peace through negotiation with those who treat hostages worse than animals.
The hostages’ truth is simple, and damning: “They slapped us.” That should be all the world needs to hear.
