Hamas releases video of wounded American-Israeli hostage

The broadcast — which Israel called ‘psychological terrorism’—raised pressure for a ceasefire deal.

A still from a video released by Hamas of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Picture: AFP

Hamas released a video of an American-Israeli hostage overnight on Wednesday, increasing pressure on the Israeli government to strike a deal with the militant group and raising hope the 23-year-old is alive after six months in captivity, despite grave injuries.

The Israeli government urged Israelis not to watch the video, which it described as “psychological terrorism”, but in a rare move the family of the hostage allowed its broadcast, underscoring the plight of relatives lobbying for a deal after more than six months of war.

In the two-minute video, Hersh Goldberg-Polin speaks directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to bring him and other hostages home. Seated in a chair in front of a white wall, Mr Goldberg-Polin appeared agitated as he accused the government of abandoning them.

A makeshift memorial at the site of the Nova music festival. Picture: Getty Images

The video wasn’t dated, but Mr Goldberg-Polin said he had been held for nearly 200 days, suggesting it was filmed recently.

He appeared with the stump of one arm, which was blown off when he was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 along with more than 240 others.

His mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, has become one of the most prominent voices calling for the hostages’ release in meetings with the Pope, US President Joe Biden and billionaire Elon Musk.

The release of the video comes amid weeks of deadlock in negotiations towards a deal to free some of the remaining 129 hostages, with both Israel and Hamas refusing to back down on key demands.

Mr Goldberg-Polin’s parents appealed directly to Qatar, Egypt, the US and Israel in response to their son’s video. “Seize this moment and get a deal done to reunite us with our loved ones and end the suffering in this region,” Jonathan Polin said in a video released after his son’s.

Protesters gathered outside the Israeli Prime Minister’s home in Jerusalem on Wednesday chanting “Bring all of them back now!”

An Israeli soldier visits a bomb shelter were revelers were killed and kidnaped after escaping the Nova music festival last October 7. Picture: Getty Images

Little was known about Mr Goldberg-Polin after Israel tracked his cellphone to Gaza when he was taken hostage during an all-night rave in southern Israel on October 7. Witnesses said Hamas had fired into the roadside bomb shelter where he was taking cover, blowing off one of his arms. Footage later emerged of him clambering into the back of a pickup truck clutching the mangled stump of his left arm.

“Hersh’s cry is the collective cry of all the hostages – their time is rapidly running out,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. “The hostages must be the top priority.”

Among key obstacles are Hamas’s demand any temporary ceasefire become permanent and Israel’s reluctance to let the unrestricted return of displaced Palestinians to homes in northern Gaza.

Hostage relatives and supporters clash with police as far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is driven from a synagogue in Jerusalem. Picture: AFP

The US, Qatar and Egypt have been mediating in the indirect negotiations towards a possible agreement that would free Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on Oct­ober 7 in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a ceasefire in the war in Gaza. The talks remain stalled with no signs of progress.

“It’s not totally dead but it’s paused for now,” said an official on Wednesday.

Another problem arose in recent weeks after Hamas told negotiators it was unsure whether it could deliver 40 civilian prisoners to hand over as a part of the first phase of a hostage deal, heightening concerns among the families of the hostages.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin was among the thousands of young people attacked by Gazan terrorists at the Nova Music Festival near Kibbutz Reim in Southern Israel. Facebook

A proposal for the deal backed by the US envisions the militant group releasing civilians first, prior to freeing Israeli soldiers. Hamas is demanding the release of a higher number of Palestinian prisoners, including political leaders and those serving long sentences on terrorism charges, in exchange for the potential release of soldiers.

Hamas had released 109 hostages as of the end of November. Among 129 hostages left, at least 34 are dead.

The Wall Street Journal