‘WE LOVE YOU’
Parents of US Hamas hostage slam ‘distressing’ vid that shows him with amputated hand as they urge son to ‘stay strong’
His loving parents released a heartbreaking statement after seeing their son
THE heartbroken parents of a US hostage snatched by Hamas have slammed the terror group for releasing a "distressing" video of their son.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 24, was ruthlessly taken hostage over six months ago as harrowing footage shows him with an amputated hand begging for his "nightmare" to end.
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His brave parents, Jon and Rachel, responded to the heartbreaking video by saying: "We love you, stay strong, survive."
The US Israeli citizen was captured on October 7 at the Nova desert music festival where hundreds were slaughtered by Hamas terrorists.
He says he has been held captive for 201 days with 70 hostages killed in horrific bombings on Gaza in that time.
In the clip released by his kidnappers, Hersh looked dishevelled, scared and pale as he sat in a dusty red top with marks on his face and his left hand missing.
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He used the video to plead with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government to save him and other hostages.
The young man says: "Do you not want to end this nightmare?
"At a time when you are having your Passover meals with your families, think of us hostages under the ground.
"Without water, food or sunlight, or the medical attention I've needed for so long."
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Israel believes the videos are being published by their enemies to increase public pressure on them to come to an agreement with Hamas.
The footage has already sent shock waves through Israel, reigniting calls to end the war in Gaza so the hostages can be freed.
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A chaotic protest erupted near to Netanyahu’s house in Jerusalem hours after the video was first broadcast.
Demonstrators called for the prime minister to “bring them home” as they banged on drums and made bonfires in the middle of the streets.
The video is the first of its kind Hamas has publicly released showing a US hostage.
An official said the FBI and hostage rescue experts are analysing the footage.
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'WE LOVE YOU'
At the end of the video, Hersh speaks directly to his loving parents.
He says: “Don’t stop [campaigning] until we all return home in peace.
"I hope to see you soon when all of this is over.”
Jon and Rachel released a statement in response to the video praising their son's strength while calling for world leaders to negotiate the release of all hostages.
They said: “Seeing the video of Hersh today is overwhelming.
"We are relieved to see him alive but we are also concerned about his health and wellbeing as well as that of all the other hostages and all of those suffering in this region.
“We are here today with a plea to all of the leaders of the parties who have been negotiating to date. This includes Qatar, Egypt, the United States, Hamas and Israel.
"Be brave, lean in, seize this moment and get a deal done to reunite all of us with our loved ones and end the suffering in this region.
"Hersh, we heard your voice today for the first time in 201 days and if you can hear us, we are telling you, we love you, stay strong, survive.”
Rachel was named as one of the top 100 most influential people in 2024 by Time Magazine for her constant efforts to save her son and the remaining hostages.
She has previously called herself a "symbol for the hostage crisis".
Both parents started a campaign called "Bring Hersh home" when he was taken hostage.
It has seen posters of him smiling spread across towns in Israel as others show their support.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum spoke after the clip was released saying: “Hersh’s cry is the collective cry of all the hostages – their time is rapidly running out.”
“We cannot afford to waste any more time; the hostages must be the top priority."
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HOSTAGE HORRORS
Hersh's terrifying injuries are thought to have come after a grenade was launched near him in a heinous Hamas attack.
Footage shows a man, who many believe to be Hersh, being taken to a white van alongside two other hostages and driven away.
In the shameful two-and-a-half-minute clip, a courageous Hersh also reveals 70 hostages have been killed so far by bombing in Gaza.
Israel has previously admitted they know of 34 captive civilians who have died but haven't announced if they were killed in military strikes or as a result of being captured.
It is thought they still have around 100 hostages trapped.
Ceasefire talks have constantly collapsed between Israel and Hamas over how the war should end.
Israel has been constantly campaigning for Hamas militants to return all the hostages snatched as part of a deal.
Experts, however, feel Iran could be influencing its violent proxy army Hamas to exploit the Israeli hostages trapped in Gaza and use them as bargaining chips.
US State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said "Hamas is more interested in a full-scale regional war" than a ceasefire deal.
It comes as satellite images show Israel gearing up their troops and military trucks for a potential six-week assault on the city of Rafah.
Israel is looking to end the horrific war while keeping civilian casualties low as they plan to evacuate over one million residents.
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It is hoped this will help them to flush out Hamas leaders hiding out in the city.
Hamas has warned that an attack would risk the lives of the hostages.
Timeline of the Israeli Hamas war since Oct 7
Oct 7, 2023: Hamas gunmen launch horror attack killing thousands of innocent civilians and taking hostages
Oct 7, 2023: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is at war and prepares revenge airstrikes on Gaza
Oct 13, 2023: Israel tells residents of Gaza City to move south along the Gaza Strip
Oct 19, 2023: Yemen's Houthi terror groups start attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea linked to Israel including US and UK vessels
Oct 21, 2023: Aid trucks are sent through the Rafah border into Gaza
Oct 27, 2023: Israel launches ground offensive in Gaza
Nov 1, 2023: People try to evacuate Gaza completely as war ramps up but many forced to stay
Nov 15, 2023: Israeli troops enter Gaza's biggest hospital, Al Shifa, after a siege of several days as they believe Hamas are working inside
Nov 21, 2023: Israel and Hamas announce a ceasefire to last seven days and see the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners
Nov 2023: Truce ends with only half of hostages returned
Dec 1, 2023: Fighting starts up again with first round of airstrikes in weeks
Dec 4, 2023: Israeli forces launch huge ground assault in southern Gaza, towards the main southern city of Khan Younis
Dec 12, 2023: Countries call on Israel to find a new ceasefire deal to stop civilian casualties
Jan 11, 2024: US and British warplanes, ships and submarines launch retaliatory strikes across Yemen
Feb 29, 2024: More than 100 Gazans die as they queued for humanitarian aid with Israel and Hamas having different views on what happened
April 1, 2024: Israeli air strikes kill seven aid workers for the World Central Kitchen charity
April 1, 2024: Iran's embassy hit in Damascus by a suspected Israeli airstrike killing several military officers and a top general
April 13, 2024: Tehran responds to the embassy strike by firing hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel but most are intercepted
April 19, 2024: Israel hits back at Iran with precision strike near a nuclear site in Isfahan
April 23, 2024: Israel gear up for six-week assault on Rafah
April 24, 2024: Hostage claims 70 people held captive have died after being bombed
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