Gaza City, Gaza Strip – A chilling video of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage, was released by Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades on Wednesday. In the video, the 23-year-old is shown speaking in Hebrew, his left arm severed below his elbow, calling on the Israeli government to act swiftly to bring home the hostages as the conflict in Gaza reached its 200th day on Tuesday.
Goldberg-Polin, captured by Hamas, appeared in a separate video on October 7th, visibly injured by a grenade blast at the Supernova music festival in southern Israel. Israeli officials reported that he was one of 250 individuals taken captive that day, amidst the chaotic violence that escalated into a war in the Gaza Strip.
The video release by Al-Qassam Brigades coincided with ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a potential cease-fire and hostage release agreement. In the video, Goldberg-Polin expressed his frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza.
Goldberg-Polin’s family released a statement in response to the video, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and calling for immediate action to resolve the humanitarian crisis and bring their loved one home safely. The family expressed concerns about the dwindling time and the fear of additional innocent lives being lost.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Hersh’s mother, has been actively advocating for the release of hostages in Gaza, highlighting the anguish and uncertainty that families like hers endure. She recounted the harrowing experience her son faced, hiding in a roadside bomb shelter with others before being injured and captured by militants.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the desperate plea for the safe return of the hostages grows louder. Rachel Goldberg-Polin urged for compassion and compromise from Netanyahu’s government to ease the suffering on both sides, emphasizing the toll of innocent lives lost in the ongoing violence.
The release of the video has prompted U.S. officials to engage in discussions with Goldberg-Polin’s family, while the FBI’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell analyzes the footage for potential leads on his captivity. As the world watches and waits, the fate of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and the remaining hostages in Gaza remains uncertain, leaving families on edge and desperately hoping for a resolution to end their nightmare.