Topline
Hamas published a video featuring Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken from the Nova Music Festival during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack in Israel and whose fate was uncertain—providing the first confirmation he survived injuries sustained in the attack and offering his family hope he is still alive.
Supporters of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, ... [+]
Key Facts
Hamas published the video Wednesday on its Telegram channel, featuring Goldberg-Polin missing part of his left arm—consistent with accounts of the injuries he was said to have sustained on Oct. 7—and while undated, he reportedly says he’s been held captive for “almost 200 days,” with the 200-day mark since Oct. 7 passing this past Tuesday.
Multiple media outlets cited U.S. officials who said the video was shared with the Biden administration ahead of its public release as proof of life Monday.
Through his parents, Jon and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, and their “Bring Hersh Home” campaign, he’s become one of the most well-known faces among the Israeli hostages still believed to be held by Hamas—his mother has given a slew of speeches, media interviews and meetings with world leaders, earning her a spot on Time Magazine’s most influential people list this year.
Through eyewitness accounts, his family had established he was last seen Oct. 7 in a bunker attempting to throw grenades out when part of his arm was blown off, according to CNN—video surfaced later appearing to show an Goldberg-Polin being carried into the back of a truck, missing part of his arm from the elbow down.
Goldberg-Polin is a 24-year-old Israeli-American who was born in Berkeley, California and moved to Israel with his parents in 2008 when he was 7 years old, his family has said—he reportedly loved music, soccer, travel and attending music festivals like the one he was at on Oct. 7 near the border of Gaza, and had been planning to leave for a trip around the world in December.
His family has reportedly described him as an “active peace pursuer” who was part of an initiative that aimed to connect Israeli and Arab children through soccer.
Crucial Quote
“Be brave, lean in, seize this moment and get a deal done to reunite all of us with our loved ones and end the suffering in this region,” Jon Goldberg-Polin said in a video message directed to the parties involved in hostage negotiations, following the release of the video of his son. Rachel Goldberg-Polin added: “Hersh, if you can hear this, we heard your voice today for the first time in 201 days, and if you can hear us, I am telling you—we are telling you—we love you, stay strong, survive.”
What To Watch For
The video released by Hamas reportedly depicts Goldberg-Polin criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for failing to reach a cease-fire and hostage-release agreement—though, as CNN reported, other hostage videos have featured similar talking points and were likely filmed under duress. The video will likely put new pressure on negotiators—the Washington Post reported protesters gathered outside Netanyahu’s official residence to call for a deal to release hostages following the video’s public release, with many holding posters of Goldberg-Polin.
Big Number
129. That’s the number of hostages still believed to be held by Hamas from the Oct. 7 attack, which also killed more than 1,200 people, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Israel Defense Forces have said they believe at least 34 of those hostages are dead, the Journal reported.
