How did the people on the train react to the stories of Nazi brutality? why did they react in that manner (ch 10)

After an hour of silence, a man announces that he can see a village ahead with peasants by the tracks. The passengers scream for help. The man states that the peasants merely run their fingers across their throats in a slashing motion. They do not care. Shmuel asks if they ever did care. Another man says he has heard stories of Jews being relocated to Russia where they were forced to lie down and were slaughtered by soldiers. Other horrific stories emerge, but they are quickly dismissed as gossip and simple stories. Hannah asks why they do not break out and run. Where would they run to? she is asked. "America," she answers. The villagers insist that this is their home. "What about Israel?" asks Hannah. Gitl chuckles. "And where is Israel, except in our prayers?" she says.