Hamas has released a video featuring one of the Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza, Hersh Goldberg-Polin. In the video, Goldberg-Polin criticizes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for not doing enough to secure their release. The young man appears unrecognizable with close-cropped hair, marks on his face, and an amputated arm as a result of an attack by Hamas on October 7.
Goldberg-Polin addresses Netanyahu directly in the video, expressing his disappointment in the government’s lack of action to free him and the other hostages. He also sends a message to his family for the upcoming Passover holiday, reminding them of their love and support during this difficult time.
The Israeli government has been engaged in indirect negotiations with Hamas through mediators like Qatar and Egypt to reach a truce agreement. However, these talks have not been successful thus far, with Goldberg-Polin accusing the government of abandoning them for over two hundred days. He also criticizes the Israeli Air Force for allegedly killing 70 hostages in bombings.
Following her son’s video, Goldberg-Polin’s mother and father responded with one 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. Amidst 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.
