The parents of the American-Israeli hostage featured in Hamas’ latest propaganda video said it was “amazing” to see their son alive, but “very painful” knowing he’s still being held after more than six months.
“Initially, we were just crying,” Hersh’s mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, told NBC News of the family’s initial reaction to the footage.
“But it was amazing to see him, and amazing to see that he speaks like himself, with clarity and strength.
The Biden administration received the video Monday, and was in touch with the family, a US official added.
“I was just looking at him and hearing his voice,” Rachel told NBC of how she initially absorbed the footage.
Hersh spoke in Hebrew in the video, while the family mostly uses English at home, Rachel noted.
After over six months, however, they were happy to “take the words” – particularly when Hersh referred to his parents and two younger sisters.
The girls were both “broken” when they heard their names, Rachel told NBC.
In the most recent propaganda video released by Hamas, the parents of the American-Israeli hostage expressed their amazement at their son’s survival, but also expressed their pain at the fact that he has been detained for over six months.
In the video, which was released on Wednesday, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, appeared thin and had his arm severed. This was his first public appearance since he was abducted from the Supernova music festival in October. 7.
Hersh’s mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, described the family’s first reaction to the video as “we were just crying,” as she spoke to NBC News.
The mother, 54, remarked, “This was a tremendous validation.”.
Regarding the left arm that was blown off below the elbow by a grenade, she remarked, “On the other hand, we see him — he is in captivity, he’s obviously suffering with this missing dominant arm.”.
“He definitely doesn’t look like himself,” Jon Polin, Hersh’s father, continued.
But seeing him and realizing that he speaks with strength and clarity like himself was astounding. Many conflicting messages. “.
The parents’ last known sight of their son was a blurry video of him being loaded into the back of a truck, his left arm bone bloodied and exposed, until Wednesday.
According to NBC, the family was notified by US and Israeli intelligence services 45 minutes in advance that the video would be released on Wednesday.
The video was given to the US government a few days ago by Qatar, which has been mediating negotiations between Israel and Hamas, an individual familiar with the matter told the outlet.
According to a US official, the Biden administration was in contact with the family after receiving the video on Monday.
Assuming that the five American hostages are still alive, the White House has been operating.
President Biden reaffirmed on Thursday his demand for “the immediate release” of every prisoner detained in the Gaza Strip.
Hersh’s family is unaware of whether the video he made was prerecorded or if he was speaking honestly when he asked that the Israeli government arrange for his release.
Rachel described her initial reaction to the footage to NBC, saying, “I was just looking at him and hearing his voice.”.
Rachel observed that although Hersh spoke in Hebrew in the video, the family primarily speaks English at home.
They were content to “take the words” after more than six months, especially when Hersh mentioned his parents and two younger sisters.
According to Rachel, NBC, the girls were both “broken” when they heard their names.
The video, Jon continued, “just lights the fire that we need to push all leaders, all over the world, all leaders in this region, everyone who has been involved in negotiations.”.
“Everyone needs to be brought home. “.
Rachel said, “He went to a concert with his friends, and he was stolen from his life and stolen from our lives.”.
Furthermore, he will remain disabled for the remainder of his life due to the nature of his wound. I long for him to return home. “.
The family has spent the last six months of their lives dealing with “slow motion” trauma.
It’s time to end all of the suffering and to diffuse and release the tension and pressure in this area, according to Rachel.
We often assert that hope is essential. Thus, it’s not really a decision. That is required. “.
