“We’d love to see you. Stay strong and survive.” That is the message that Jonathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg want to convey to their 23-year-old son Hersh. The latter was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 and appeared in a video by the Palestinian terror group last Wednesday.
American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin was kidnapped at the Nova music festival on October 7. At least 1,200 Israelis were killed that day in the bloody Hamas attack. The victims mainly occurred at the festival and in several villages on the border with the Gaza Strip. At least 250 people were taken hostage. Since then, Israel has continuously carried out retaliation in the area.
On Wednesday, Hamas distributed images of 23-year-old Hersh, showing how the young man has lost his left hand and part of his forearm. In the video he – perhaps on behalf of Hamas – lashes out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “You, along with thousands of other citizens, have failed us. You should be ashamed of yourself,” he said. Hersh also calls Hamas’ tunnel network “an underground hell” and criticizes the lack of water, food, sunlight and medical care.
LOOK. “Underground hell”: Hamas shared the video of 23-year-old Hersh last Wednesday
Injuries
The video has caused “mixed feelings” for parents Jonathan and Rachel, they say in an interview with the American news channel ‘CNN’. On the one hand they are happy that their son is still alive, on the other hand they want to free him from the hands of Hamas as quickly as possible. “But he is alive and there are many families who have not yet received that proof,” said Rachel. “I have been telling him for more than 200 days: ‘We love you, stay strong and survive’.”
Still, the couple is concerned about Hersh’s health. “He doesn’t look well. He is very pale, although that is normal after more than 200 days in a tunnel,” says Jonathan. According to eyewitnesses, Hersh was wounded in the arm when he tried to throw grenades from a bunker where he was taking shelter with others on October 7. Mother Rachel says she has already received several messages from surgeons claiming that her son’s arm needs urgent care.
Although the parents feel powerless, they remain hopeful. “And maybe there is something positive about the video,” says Jonathan. “Maybe it will make negotiators realize that they are dealing with real people whose families work hard every day to get them home,” he said.
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Tags: Parents #23yearold hostage appeared Hamas video son home doesnt IsraelPalestine conflict
