Like many presidents before him (such as John F Kennedy in his approach to Gamal Abdel Nasser's revolutionary Egypt in the early 1960s), Trump views the Middle East, which bubbles with hostility toward the West, through the practical lens of a businessman convinced that every problem has a fair solution and that there exists a universal definition of "rationality."

The three hostages were held in severe conditions, according to their testimonies. For most of their captivity, they were given very little food and kept in underground tunnels without exposure to daylight. They stated that they had no way of knowing whether it was summer or winter outside.

The heart that so desperately wanted to rejoice, to celebrate the release of Ohad, Eli, and Or, became paralyzed for a few moments in a wave of true collective fear. The three return after 491 days in captivity at the hands of these animals: emaciated, exhausted, broken. As time passes, the images will only become even harder to bear.

The release of three hostages Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy, after 491 days in Hamas captivity, evoked deep distress. The Israeli negotiation team is now facing a critical question: Should efforts be accelerated to secure a second phase of the deal and bring the remaining hostages home?

Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, and Eli Sharabi were transferred from Hamas captivity to Red Cross personnel in a cynical ceremony, appearing frail and emaciated. Professor Hagai Levine: 'Medical teams must examine them and translate their appearance into diagnoses and treatment.'