Hamas released a video on Wednesday showing one of its Israeli hostages giving a speech in captivity. In the video a man describes himself as Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin Before delivering a lengthy statement apparently drafted by Hamas, which has long been designated a terrorist organization by the US and Israel.
However, the video may give hope to the young man’s family, as the message he is conveying includes a reference to his 200 days in captivity – which suggests it was either filmed on April 24, or by Hamas. Exactly 200 days after launching their attack. CBS News cannot confirm the filming or content of the video released by Hamas’s armed al-Qassam Brigades, but it was posted on the same social media channel used by the group to regularly publish propaganda videos. used to go. Others are showing hostages,
A U.S. official confirmed to CBS News that the White House received the video on Monday, and said the White House has been in contact with the Goldberg-Polin family since receiving it. The family also received a copy of the live video, the official said.
The official said this is the first time Hamas has publicly released a video of the hostage-taking of an American citizen.
“I wasn’t even really listening to what he was saying, I was just hearing his voice,” Hersh’s mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, told CBS News in an interview Thursday about the video. “I haven’t heard from him for six months. He’s obviously medically vulnerable and medically fragile.”
Goldberg-Polin said the last time she heard her son say “I love you” in a text message was while he was being held hostage by Hamas on October 7.
“I don’t know if he hears it or whether he feels it or whether he knows it, but I’m ordering him to survive,” she said. “So many people were so emotional because they really didn’t think he was alive.”
A statement released Wednesday by the Hostage Families Forum, which represents families of people still held in Gaza, said Goldberg-Polin’s parents wanted the message he was sending out, and the group Did not question the authenticity of the video.
“The cry of joy is the collective cry of all the hostages – their time is fast running out. With each passing day, the fear of losing more innocent lives is growing stronger. We cannot waste any more time; The hostages must be given the highest priority,” the group said in its statement.
There was no clear indication from Hamas that Goldberg-Polin, now 24, was still alive. he was serious Injured in attack by militants during music festival He was taking part near the Gaza border during the unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7.”
In the video, Goldberg-Palin shows that his left arm is missing, and some scars are visible on his head and face, but he speaks clearly in Hebrew and otherwise appears thin but healthy. The video includes English subtitles, which CBS News described as accurate.
“Harsh and I are both left-handed,” his mother told CBS News. “He’s no longer left-handed. It was really an overwhelming moment.”
The statements, which he apparently makes under duress while in captivity at Hamas, include insults and rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to secure an agreement for the release of the remaining hostages.
It is believed that about 130 people are still held in Gaza, of whom about 240 were initially taken hostage by Hamas.
It is unclear how many of the remaining hostages are still alive, but Goldberg-Polin said in a videotaped statement that “about 70” captives have been killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza. US officials could not confirm what was said under pressure in the video, including when it was filmed. Hamas had previously issued false statements about the fate of the hostages, and accused Israel of killing those who were later found alive.
“This is an innocent young man who is being held hostage by a terrorist organization and he must be released immediately, without condition and without delay,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said at a briefing Wednesday afternoon. He said FBI experts are analyzing the video.
“As soon as we got the video that showed Harsh, we turned it over to the FBI Hostage Interdiction Recovery Cell,” Sullivan said. “…I’m not going to go beyond that assessment to make any decisions about timing, you know, novelty, etc. I’ll let them make those decisions and then when we have something in the light of all of us You can share it publicly, we will share it with you.”
The video was released as Jews were celebrating the Passover holiday.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin had told CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Moderator Margaret Brennan said earlier this month that his family was going through “a painful, shockingly indescribable journey” as they waited for news of their son. According to witnesses, he already knew that he had lost part of his arm in the attack at the Supernova concert on 7 October and had to apply his own tourniquet.
A US official confirmed to CBS News on Wednesday that five US citizens are still missing and believed to be hostages in Gaza, including Goldberg-Polin. Three other Americans who were in Israel when Hamas attacked on October 7 – Itay Chen, Judith Weinstein And Gad Haggai – Presumed dead, but their bodies have not yet been recovered.
In the video released Wednesday, Goldberg-Polin says Netanyahu and his fellow Israeli leaders should be “ashamed” of continuing their mission in Gaza while she and her fellow captives live “in an underground hell, without water.” , food or sun” are stranded.
At the end of the statement, Goldberg-Polin addresses her family directly, naming her parents and siblings, saying: “I love you. I know you want me to get home as soon as possible.” Trying your best. I want you to do that.” Stay strong for me.”
Goldberg-Polin’s parents are among the relatives and loved ones of the hostages who have put tremendous pressure on Israel’s leaders to negotiate a new ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas.
“I don’t know that the Cabinet needed to light a flame to get these hostages out,” his father Jonathan Pollin told CBS News’ Chris Livesay in December. “But if they did, this happens today.”
Rachel Goldberg-Polin had the following message for those negotiating the deal on Thursday.
He said, “For this it is important to love and care for our people more than hating others.” “Let’s be human. Let’s figure this out, and let’s end this.”
—Margaret Brennan and Deborah Patta contributed to this report.
