Hamas has released a distressing video of US-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the six captives whose bodies were recovered from Gaza last week. Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old dual US and Israeli citizen was among those abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attack that killed around 1,200 people.
Looking disheveled, Goldberg-Polin addressed his parents and two sisters, saying, “Mama, Dada, Leebi and Orly, I love you, I miss you. And I’m thinking about you every single day.” He went on to describe the harsh conditions of his captivity, stating, “Since I arrived in Gaza, I’ve survived with almost no medical care, little food and little water. I can’t remember the last time I saw the sun or took a breath of fresh air.”
‘Leaving me behind’
In the propaganda video, produced under the influence of the Palestinian outfit, Goldberg-Polin appeared to criticise Israel’s government. He said, “…my own country, Israel, has been trying to bomb me nonstop so they don’t have to take responsibility and make a deal for their mistake and for leaving me behind.” The video, released late Thursday, appeared to be recorded later than his previous video in April, as Goldberg-Polin had longer hair and a more prominent beard and mustache.
Goldberg-Polin’s parents, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin expressed their grief but felt it necessary to speak out after the video’s release. In a statement, they said, “This must serve as an immediate wake-up call to the world to take action today to secure the release of the remaining 101 hostages before it is too late. No other family should go through what our family (and the families of the other recently executed hostages) have endured.”
Goldberg-Polin’s abduction during the October 7 attack, where his left arm was blown off by a grenade when Hamas stormed the Nova music festival on Oct. 7 and killed 364 civilians. His parents pushed for the release of Hamas’ bodycam footage of the incident to urge Israeli and American officials to secure a hostage exchange deal.
Funeral in Jerusalem
During Goldberg-Polin’s funeral in Jerusalem on Monday, his mother, Rachel Goldberg, mourned his death and asked for his forgiveness, saying, “If there was something we could have done to save you, and we didn’t think of it, I beg your forgiveness. We tried so very hard, so deeply and desperately. I’m sorry.”
Along with Goldberg-Polin, the bodies of five other hostages were recovered on Saturday. Israel’s health ministry confirmed that all six hostages were killed by short-range shots two to three days before their bodies were found. Hamas had previously released similar videos of three other slain hostages, in which they gave their emotional final words before their deaths.
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