Hamas on Wednesday released a video that appears to show Israeli-American dual national Hersh Goldberg Pollin, who has been held hostage since the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. It appears to be the first time Mr Goldberg-Pollin, who was seriously injured in the attack, has been confirmed alive since being locked up.
It’s unclear when the video was shot, but Goldberg-Pollin, who was 23 years old when he was abducted, says he was held hostage for nearly 200 days and that the video was recently made. It suggests that it is something. He also wishes his parents a happy holiday, which may be in reference to the week-long Passover festival currently celebrated.
Goldberg-Pollin’s parents later issued a videotaped statement saying they were relieved to see their son alive, but feared for his health and the number of others believed to still be held in Gaza. He said he was concerned about the health of the ten hostages.
“Today, we urge the leaders of all the parties we have negotiated with to date, including Qatar, Egypt, the United States, Hamas and Israel, to courageously lean forward and seize this moment to reach an agreement. “I’m here to plead with you to reunite us all with our loved ones and end the suffering in this community,” said his father, Jonathan Pollin. Her mother, Rachel Goldberg Pollin, encouraged her son to “be strong and survive.”
Israeli military spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari told Goldberg Pollin’s family in a video message that Israel would do everything in its power to “bring home your son Hersh and all of our hostages.” .
“This is an urgent call to action. We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to find the hostages,” he said.
Goldberg-Pollin was attending the Tribe of Nova music festival in Reims, Israel, when Hamas gunmen attacked and killed hundreds of people. According to a survivor of the attack, he lost part of his arm while guarding an emergency shelter with his friend Anna Shapira, who was killed.
Rights groups and international law experts say hostage videos are, by definition, made under duress, and the statements made in them are usually coerced. Israeli authorities call the videos a form of “psychological warfare,” and experts say their production may amount to a war crime.
It is unclear how the video was shot, and the footage appears to have been edited. It was published on Hamas’ social media channels in Israel around 5 p.m.
Goldberg-Pollin repeatedly mentioned the need for medical attention and showed the camera his injured arm. He said in the video that he suffered “severe injuries all over his body and is struggling to survive” in the October attack, adding that while in captivity he was “deprived of water, food, sun and much needed medical treatment.” I couldn’t accept it,” he added.
He also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government officials. “When you’re having a holiday meal with your family, think about all of us who are still in the basement of hell,” he says.
“The hostages must be a top priority,” the Hostage Families Forum said in a statement.
“This harrowing video is an urgent call for swift and decisive action to resolve this horrific humanitarian crisis and ensure the safe return of loved ones,” the group said.
Mr. Goldberg Pollin, a dual citizen of Israel and the United States, was born in Berkeley, California, and was in elementary school when his family moved to Israel from Richmond, Virginia. He had his arm blown off during a raid on a roadside bomb shelter.
His family has pieced together at least part of what happened to him through other family members and survivors of the attack, as well as by reviewing text messages and phone conversations. They said they believed he was in urgent need of medical treatment for injuries to his arm believed to have been caused by a grenade.
In an op-ed piece for the New York Times shortly after his abduction, his mother described her son as a gentle and kind man who swam around raising money for charities in Africa.
“I don’t know if he’s dead or alive and if I’ll ever see him again,” she wrote.
Her mother told reporters that the family plans to celebrate Passover with a seder this week, and that “they have made it very clear that if you can’t wait 15 minutes and if you have to cry, you will cry.” Told.
Goldberg-Pollin ended the video by addressing parents directly.
“I love you very much and miss you,” he told them. “It’s not going to be a fun vacation for me, but I hope it for you.”
Malachy Browne, Johnatan Reiss and Isabel Kershner contributed reporting.
