From Abduction to Criticism: The Strange Case of Hersh Goldberg-Polin

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli with an American passport, was abducted on October 7th at the Nova festival during a Hamas attack on Israel. At the time of his abduction, he was seriously injured and family and friends believed he had died. However, later that day, Hamas released a video in which Hersh appeared, confirming his identity by providing his parents’ dates of birth and names. In the video, he criticized the Israeli government and asked his parents to stay strong during this difficult time.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin was born in the USA and moved to Israel with his family in 2008. Following the October 7th attack, he sent two messages to his parents saying “I love you” and “I miss you.” Despite their attempts to reach him by phone, he never responded. Other hostages held by Hamas also criticized Israeli authorities, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The situation involving Hersh Goldberg-Polin garnered international attention as many articles and blogs discussed topics such as cryptocurrency in online gaming and junk removal services for homeowners. Additionally, some advertisements and promotional materials unrelated to Hersh’s situation were included in the content.