Trump threatens ceasefire deal after seeing horrifying condition of Israeli hostages

On Sunday, President Donald Trump said he was losing patience with the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas after seeing footage of the Israeli hostages who were released by Hamas over the weekend. Their appearance, he said, was comparable to Holocaust survivors.

During their release on Saturday morning, Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, and Eli Sharabi looked as if they had lost an unhealthy amount of weight, drawing comments comparing their appearances to Holocaust survivors across social media.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl, "They look like Holocaust survivors. They were in horrible condition. They were emaciated. I don't know how much longer we can take that ... at some point, we're going to lose our patience." He added, "I know we have a deal ... they dribble in and keep dribbling in ... but they are in really bad shape."

76 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, including 6 Americans. Many of the hostages are known to be dead and Palestinian terrorists are holding the bodies for ransom.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed, "The shocking images that we have seen today will not go unaddressed." President Isaac Herzog added, "This is what a crime against humanity looks like!"

On Sunday, the families of the released hostages held press conferences at the hospitals where their loved ones were being treated, describing what their relatives suffered at the hands of Palestinian captors. The Jerusalem Post reported that Michael Levy, brother of Or Levy, said, "For 16 months, he was hungry, barefoot, and in constant fear that every day could be his last. The hardest blow was yesterday when Or discovered that Einav, the love of his life, was murdered on that terrible day. I saw my brother again. I hugged him, but he wasn't the same Or who left home on October 7th. He came back in poor physical condition. Anyone who saw the pictures and videos couldn't ignore it."

He added, "President Trump, we owe you our deepest gratitude for bringing my brother back home. You made this deal possible. We need your continued support, together with the Israeli government, to take the brave steps necessary for the next phases of the deal."

Yulie Ben Ami, daughter of Ohad Ben Ami, said, "The return of the hostages yesterday leaves no room for doubt! They all must return! We will not stop fighting until the last hostage comes home. I want to thank President Trump and his special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who helped us secure this deal." Her sister Ella added, "My father endured horrors - we haven't even begun to hear about or comprehend the hell he was in. Fortunately, we now have the rest of our lives with him."

Sharon Sharabi, brother of Yossi and of Eli said, "76 hostages remain deep in Hamas tunnels, in darkness, in hell, under the control of terrorists responsible for October 7. If previously my life's mission was to convey the urgency of releasing the hostages, now that my father has returned, I understand it's far worse than I ever imagined. This is the victory of the Israeli people - that we brought them back. I want to address Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - at this time, make brave decisions. These are critical moments for saving lives. On Eli's behalf, I can tell you this struggle has touched everyone in Hamas's hands - in the hands of a murderous terrorist organization without mercy. Eli, as you saw him, is the most urgent testament to the need to save lives in Israel and bring everyone home immediately."

Trump also said on Sunday that he is committed to buying and owning Gaza, but working with partners in the Middle East to rebuild and develop the area. “We will make Gaza into a good site for future development; we will take care of the Palestinians.” Trump has meetings scheduled with the King of Jordan Abdullah II, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.