Hersh Goldberg-Polin urges Israeli authorities to “end this nightmare now” in a video released by al-Qassam Brigades after 200 days of the war on Gaza.
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Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli captive held in the Gaza Strip, addresses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government from captivity in a video released by al-Qassam Brigades on April 24, 2024. (Al-Qassam Brigades/Military Media)
Hamas’ military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, released a video of an Israeli settler it is holding captive in the Gaza Strip, in which he addressed Israeli settlers and authorities.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli settler taken captive on October 7, 2023, sent a critical message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, as he remains held in captivity for more than 200 days in the Gaza Strip.
Goldberg-Polin, who has clearly sustained a number of injuries that were treated by al-Qassam fighters, including an injury that led to the amputation of his hand, said that he was taken captive as he attended the Nova Music Festival outside the besieged Gaza Strip.
“I went out seeking entertainment with my friends. Instead, I found myself struggling to survive with several injuries across my body,” the captive said as he gestured with his amputated hand.
“There was no there protect us that day,” Golberg-Polin said angrily in clear criticism of Israeli authorities, who failed to anticipate the Palestinian Resistance’s offensive, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
“Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, you should be ashamed of yourselves because you neglected us along with thousands of other citizens,” the captive stressed.
Read more: Netanyahu appears indifferent to captives fate, undermined deal effort
200 days and the Israeli military fails to retrieve its captives
Goldberg-Polin went on to lambast the Israeli government and the military for failing to retrieve the captives after 200 days of the war on Gaza.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves for leaving us for 200 days,” the captive said, adding that all of the Israeli military’s efforts in the Gaza Strip “have failed”.
He also blasted Israeli occupation forces for killing over 70 Israeli captives in the Israeli Air Force’s raids on the Gaza Strip.
Goldbeg-Polin said that Netnanyahu’s government should be ashamed for rejecting all the deals offered to them by the Palestinian Resistance in mediated negotiations, which would have set him and others free.
“Don’t you want this nightmare to end?”
Read more: Thousands of Israelis protest demanding resolve to captives issue
Living a life of leisure while captives suffer the genocidal war
“At a time when you are holding feasts with your families, think of us captives in underground hell, without water, food, or sun. Without the treatment that I have needed for so long,” the captive asserted.
“Every day that we are here you ignore us more and more,” he said, addressing Netanyahu’s government.
“Do what is expected of you and bring us home immediately!”
The captive questioned whether Israeli officials are capable of completing such a task, saying that government members should resign and “sit in your homes.”
It is worth noting that Goldberg-Polin, like many other Israeli settlers, was born in the United States and moved with his family to settle in occupied al-Quds.
Read more: Israeli fibs: What really happened when two captives were retrieved?
