Hamas has launched a video of an Israeli-American man held captive within the Gaza Strip at some point of Israel’s warfare on the enclave, igniting new protests calling on the Israeli authorities to do extra to safe the captives’ launch.
The video issued on Wednesday by the Palestinian group was the primary signal of lifetime of Hersh Goldberg-Polin since October 7, when he was taken captive by Hamas-led fighters from the Tribe of Nova music pageant in southern Israel.
A part of his left arm seemed to be lacking. Witnesses stated he misplaced it when attackers tossed grenades right into a shelter the place individuals had taken refuge. He had tied a tourniquet round it earlier than being bundled right into a truck by Hamas.
Though there was no date on the video, Goldberg-Polin appeared to reference the weeklong Jewish vacation of Passover, which started on Monday.
Qatar, one of many worldwide mediators between Hamas and Israel to safe a ceasefire, handed the video on to the US and Israel on Monday, two days earlier than it was launched by the group, in keeping with sources conversant in the matter who had been quoted by the US-based Axios information web site.
One other supply stated US President Joe Biden’s administration had requested the Qatari authorities a number of occasions for help in getting proof of life for Goldberg-Polin and different American captives.
The difficulty, Axios reported, got here up in telephone calls between Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and senior White Home officers.
Blaming Netanyahu
Reporting from occupied East Jerusalem, Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith stated the almost three-minute video of Goldberg-Polin noticed him overtly criticising Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “not doing sufficient, blames him for not getting the captives out”.
Goldberg-Polin additionally claimed that about 70 captives had been killed in Israel’s bombing marketing campaign on Gaza.
“Keep in mind, after all, when these movies are launched, they don’t seem to be talking freely. They’re being instructed what they will and can’t say by their captors,” Smith stated.
In accordance with the footage, Goldberg-Polin stated he has been “underground” for about 200 days, so there may be “no mounted time on the video”, Smith stated, including that it’s the first video of its sort in about three months.
In response to the video, the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board, a gaggle representing these held captive in Gaza and their households, stated “time is working out” to make sure that all of the captives are returned.
“With every passing day, the worry of dropping extra harmless lives grows stronger,” it stated in an announcement.
“All of the hostages have to be introduced dwelling – these alive to start the method of rehabilitation, and people murdered for a dignified burial.
“This distressing video serves as an pressing name to take swift and decisive motion to resolve this horrific humanitarian disaster and make sure the protected return of our family members.”
Protesters have taken to the streets in cities throughout Israel demanding that Netanyahu’s authorities do extra to convey dwelling the captives, and extra not too long ago for an finish to the warfare in Gaza and new elections in Israel.
Goldberg-Polin is without doubt one of the most recognised Hamas captives. Posters along with his picture are pinned up throughout Israel. His mom, Rachel Goldberg, has met a number of world leaders and addressed the United Nations.
His mother and father stated they had been relieved to see him alive however had been involved about his well being and wellbeing, in addition to that of the opposite captives.
“We’re right here immediately with a plea to the entire leaders of the events who’ve been negotiating up to now,” stated his father, Jon Polin, naming Egypt, Israel, Qatar, the US and Hamas.
“Be courageous, lean in, seize this second and get a deal performed to reunite all of us with our family members and finish the struggling on this area,” he stated.
No less than 34,262 Palestinians have been killed and 77,229 wounded in Israeli assaults on Gaza since October 7. The dying toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 assaults stands at 1,139, with dozens nonetheless held captive in Gaza.
