Within the footage, which is almost three minutes lengthy, Goldberg-Polin mentions the Jewish vacation of Passover, which started this week. He additionally refers to spending “virtually 200 days” in captivity, which Israelis marked Tuesday.
Goldberg-Polin, 23, was one among 253 folks kidnapped by Hamas-led fighters of their brazen assault in October. In a grisly video of the kidnapping, militants are proven forcing Goldberg-Polin into the again of a automobile on the Nova music pageant, his left hand blown off by what gave the impression to be a grenade.
At 8:11 a.m. on Oct. 7, he had despatched two messages through WhatsApp to his mom. “I like you,” the primary learn. The subsequent one mentioned: “I’m sorry.”
The brand new video, which was posted on Hamas’s Telegram channel, is closely edited at occasions and reveals Goldberg-Polin with marks on his face. His left hand and a part of his forearm are lacking, and he provides what seems to be a scripted assertion condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Nonetheless, the recent footage was met with aid and urgency from Goldberg-Polin’s household and throughout Israel, as Netanyahu and his authorities face rising strain to succeed in a deal that might free the hostages. In keeping with Israeli authorities, 133 hostages stay in Gaza, together with 36 who’re confirmed lifeless.
“Seeing the video of Hersh at the moment is overwhelming,” his dad and mom, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, mentioned in an announcement Wednesday. “We’re relieved to see him alive however we’re additionally involved about his well being and wellbeing in addition to that of all the opposite hostages and all of these struggling on this area.”
Goldberg-Polin is one among 5 Individuals nonetheless believed to be held hostage in Gaza. The others are Keith Siegel, 64; Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35; Omer Neutra, 22; and Edan Alexander, 20. Siegel and Dekel-Chen have been each kidnapped from the communities the place they lived close to the border. Neutra and Alexander have been serving within the Israel Protection Forces on the day of the assault. The our bodies of three different U.S. residents — Itay Chen, Judi Weinstein and Gad Haggai — are additionally in Gaza.
Quickly after the video’s launch Wednesday, a whole lot of protesters massed close to the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem, chanting, “Carry them again now!” and “Negotiation now!” Drivers honked their horns in solidarity with the crowds. One younger woman held an indication with Goldberg-Polin’s face and the phrases “Carry Hersh house.”
For the reason that begin of the struggle, his poster has been plastered throughout Jerusalem, the place he was raised after his household moved to Israel from the USA.
Elisheva and Shoshana Baumgarten are sisters who dwell close to the Goldberg-Polin household in Baka in southern Jerusalem, they usually knew Goldberg-Polin as a toddler. They mentioned they often attend protests to assist the hostages and admire Rachel Goldberg, who has led a world marketing campaign for his launch and has spoken out about defending civilians in Gaza.
The sisters have been relieved to seek out out he should be alive, however Shoshana Baumgarten mentioned she was additionally sick with fear. Prior to now, Hamas has launched movies of dwelling hostages, solely to later share that they’d been killed.
“We simply can’t let him not come house,” mentioned Elisheva Baumgarten, a historical past professor at Hebrew College.
As Goldberg-Polin grew up, he turned a well-known face amongst Jerusalem’s small group of younger progressives. On the gritty Sira Pub in West Jerusalem, employees and patrons mentioned Wednesday that he was a fixture within the neighborhood.
Arielle Kangisser, 21, mentioned that he used to frequent the close by espresso store the place she labored and that she would see him usually within the alleyway of energetic bars the place the town’s extra left-wing youths congregate.
Seeing the brand new video Wednesday was “mind-blowing,” she mentioned. “I didn’t assume he’d survive along with his hand, his wounds. It’s unimaginable that he’s alive.”
Alon, 39, the proprietor of the adjoining Cafe Sira, mentioned he bonded with Goldberg-Polin over their shared love of trance music. Alon, who gave solely his first title for privateness causes, mentioned Wednesday evening that he noticed Goldberg-Polin the afternoon he left for the Nova music pageant close to the Gaza border.
Militants stormed the pageant Oct. 7, turning the outside live performance right into a massacre.
Alon mentioned he “felt a bit sick” when he noticed the video. “Usually, I assume it’s good, however you don’t have a look at it and smile.”
Of their assertion, Goldberg-Polin’s dad and mom — who beforehand described their ache as “virtually exponential” — provided phrases of consolation to their son.
“Hersh, we heard your voice at the moment for the primary time in 201 days and in the event you can hear us, we’re telling you, we love you, keep robust, survive,” they mentioned.
Joanna Slater, Shira Rubin and Lior Soroka contributed to this report.
