Father of Hamas Hostage Vows to Persist After Son’s Video Appearance

By Yoni Weiss

Jon Polin, father of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, revealed in an interview Thursday that until Wednesday, the family had no confirmation of his son’s survival. The appearance of Hersh in a propaganda video by Hamas has ignited renewed strength within him and his wife, Rachel Goldberg, to persist in their efforts to secure their son’s release.

Polin acknowledged the likelihood of Hersh reading from a script provided by his captors. However, he found solace in the final moments of the video where Hersh addressed his family directly, urging them to remain resolute in their fight for his freedom.

Having endured 200 days of uncertainty, the family’s spirits were bolstered by this unexpected glimpse of Hersh. Despite the emotional turmoil, Polin emphasized their determination to persevere in their mission to bring him home in the interview on Kan News.

The video, released by the Hamas, was the first tangible sign of Hersh’s well-being since his abduction. Witnessing their son’s condition, with his left arm injured and wrapped in a tourniquet, brought forth a flood of emotions for Polin and his wife.

In the wake of this development, Polin found himself repeatedly viewing the video, drawing strength from it while pondering its purpose.