The nauseating discovery last month of six innocent hostages executed by the cowardly Hamas terrorists is more evidence of the fact that Hamas is a monster, like the Nazis, with nothing but contempt for human life, specifically Jewish life. Hamas cannot be negotiated with, despite the opinion of some extremists to the contrary. The murdered hostages were Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Carmel Gat, 40, Alexander Lobanov, 32, Ori Danino, 25, Almog Sarusi, 27, and Eden Yerushalmi, 24.

This horrifying revelation of murders, including one Israeli-American, in southern Gaza, serves to further reinforce Hamas’ modus operandi: according to The New York Times, five of them had been kidnapped at the “dance music festival in southern Israel when they were taken captive during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas and its allies; a sixth was taken from the village of Be’eri.”

The question now is: Will there be any penalty for the head of the snake, Iran? Or will the United States continue to talk to the murderous mullahs who have aided and supported Hamas’ terror and brutality?

When will the United States realize that Iran and its lackeys are not educable? Iran will never stop its critical support for its conscienceless proxies until we make the price become unbearable.

The United States must not be complicit in benefiting Iran or legitimizing its conduct. Asking them kindly for help is akin to asking Eva Braun to stop Adolf Hitler from committing his ghastly crimes. When Senator Van Hollen calls for a “two-state solution” to the conflict in Israel, he plays right into the hands of Hamas. To do so means immediate suicide for Israel or at best a return to October 6. Moreover, we are concerned that such proposals mask crypto-antisemitic and anti-Israeli contempt.

Why is there insufficient support for the United States to follow even Lindsey Graham’s advice on ABC’s This Week: “If you want the hostages home, which we do, you have to increase the cost to Iran. Iran is the great Satan here. Hamas is the junior partner. They’re barbaric, religious Nazis … Iran [must be held] accountable for the fate of remaining hostages and put on the target list oil refineries in Iran if the hostages are not released.”

The parents of Hamas’ Israeli-American hostage, Goldberg-Polin, spoke movingly at the Democratic National Convention. That, if nothing else, should move the U.S. to act differently. Why is this not happening? Before objecting to an Israeli response, critics on either side must stop blaming Israel for killing civilians and explain how one can protect civilians when Hamas’ attack force embeds itself among them.

To say that Israel is intentionally killing innocent civilians is simply a false accusation — more blaming and scapegoating. To some, everything is always the fault of Jewish people. Doing so conveniently avoids the facts: Palestinians need to act to overthrow Hamas or at least reject their leadership. If they are unwilling to do so, it’s inevitable that they will bear the burden of serving as Hamas’ shields.

Before pushing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to agree to an immediate hostage release for Israel’s pulling out of Rafah, critics on both sides must explain how he can do so without incentivizing more hostage-taking.

Granted, these are tough questions and assertions, but they must be answered satisfactorily. To act otherwise is like waiting for Godot. The United States must fish or cut bait. If we are truly determined to aid Israel in its fight for survival, and America has vital military interests at stake here as well, we must acknowledge that confronting Iran’s assets and ceasing to treat Iran as a partner in peace is the only logical course of action. Netanyahu made this focus on Iran’s malfeasance unmistakenly clear in his riveting, eloquent speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, unattended by the majority of delegates, including, significantly, Saudi Arabia’s, yet the speech emphasized the possible golden future of peace in the Middle East.

Jeffrey A. Schaler, a psychologist, is a retired professor at American University and the Johns Hopkins University. Richard E. Vatz is professor emeritus at Towson University. They are two of the co-editors of “Thomas S. Szasz: The Man and His Ideas” (Transaction Publishers).