Ms. Goldberg-Polin, a petite woman with a tidy bun of silver hair, sat down for an interview with The Telegraph. Clad in a plain white T-shirt with the number 207 marked out in duct tape strips, she was determined to keep track of the days her son had been in captivity. This was a way for the couple to keep their mission at the forefront of their minds and to remind others of the importance of their cause.
Wearing these numbers serves as a stark reminder of the hostages’ plight, and Ms Goldberg-Polin feels that it may be diminishing for many Israelis as the conflict rages on. She explained that the stickers make people uneasy, as they should be since every passing day signifies a failure to secure their loved ones’ release. With Israeli leaders touting progress in hostage negotiations, Ms Goldberg-Polin expressed skepticism, having experienced numerous similar moments during seven months of war that ultimately led to nothing substantial.
Despite some optimism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a planned offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza, concerns loom regarding the potential repercussions on hostage negotiations and the safety of captives who are believed to be hidden in underground tunnels in the region. Hersh’s parents experienced anxiety when Hamas released a teaser screenshot of the video featuring their son shortly before its full unveiling, given previous videos showing deceased hostages allegedly killed by Israeli bombing raids. They know all too well how dangerous this conflict can be and are determined to continue fighting until their son is safe and free from harm.
