On Wednesday, Hamas released a video featuring Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli hostage held captive in Gaza since October 7. The young man appeared unrecognizable with close-cropped hair, marks on his face, and his amputated arm, which was the result of an attack by Hamas. In the video, Goldberg-Polin criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for not doing enough to secure their release. He also sent a message to his family for the upcoming Passover holiday.
Goldberg-Polin addressed Netanyahu directly in the video, expressing his disappointment in the government’s lack of action to free him and other hostages. He accused the Israeli Air Force of allegedly killing 70 hostages in bombings. The captive and approximately 129 other Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, with reports indicating that some hostages may have died.
The Israeli government has been engaged in indirect negotiations with Hamas through mediators like Qatar and Egypt to reach a truce agreement. However, the talks have not been successful thus far, with Goldberg-Polin accusing the government of abandoning them for over two hundred days. He also criticized Israel’s handling of the situation and called for more action from the international community to help secure their release.
Following her son’s video, Goldberg-Polin’s mother and father responded with a video of their own, sending a message of love and support to their son. They expressed relief at seeing him alive but voiced concern for his health and well-being and that of the other hostages. In the midst of these events, Qatar reassessed its role as a mediator due to perceived attacks and lack of seriousness from parties like Israel, indicating a potential shift in the mediation process.
The situation remains tense as Israel continues its efforts to secure the release of its citizens held captive by Hamas in Gaza. The international community has condemned Hamas’ actions against civilians and urged both parties to come to a peaceful resolution as soon as possible.
