Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s Mixed Emotions as Hamas Releases Video of Hostage in Healing but Unwell State

Rachel Goldberg-Polin has repeatedly said “I love you, stay strong, survive” in the last 202 days as her son Hersh Goldberg-Polin was being held hostage by Hamas. When a video of him surfaced on Wednesday, it brought hope to his family but also mixed emotions because they knew he wasn’t fully well. His arm injury sustained during Israel’s attack in October left him without most of one arm, and footage from that time showed him being taken captive with part of the limb missing. Rachel said surgeons had reached out to them regarding Goldberg-Polin’s wound as it needs treatment and rehabilitation. The video revealed his injury was healing but he appeared unwell in colouring – likely due to 200 days spent in a tunnel during captivity, which took place following Hamas attacks on Israel when more than 1200 people died. Banners featuring the words “Bring Hersh Home” have been displayed throughout Jerusalem as Goldberg-Polin remains among over one hundred hostages still being held by Hamas. The family regularly meet high ranking US officials to put pressure on them regarding their son’s situation, and in a recent interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper Rachel said that it was difficult for her family to celebrate Passover without him as the holiday is usually seen as commemorating Jewish people leaving captivity. Goldberg-Polin spoke Hebrew during the video released by Hamas, which his mother found unusual since they don’t converse in their household language of this sort. “It was like kissing someone through a veil because that’s not how we communicate at home,” she said to Cooper while adding: “But it is his voice.” The family have called on negotiators including Qatar, Egypt, the United States and Hamas themselves as well as Israel to work harder towards reaching an agreement which would reunite families and bring about a resolution for all those still being held captive. Goldberg-Polin’s father added: “This video plays one small part in reminding negotiators that they’re dealing with real human beings who have aspirations, love from their family members and are working every day to try and bring them home.”