Alive and Wounded: The Terrorist Kidnapping of Hirsch Goldberg-Polin and the Ongoing Battle for His Release

Hirsch Goldberg-Polin, an individual with both Israeli and American citizenship, was kidnapped by Hamas militants on Black Saturday on October 7. According to reports from the Kan-11 television channel, a video released by the terrorist group as part of “psychological warfare” was received by the White House and the FBI. The video, which shows the wounded hostage, has prompted experts at the FBI to investigate and extract any information that may be useful in the future.

The White House confirmed that they received the video of Hirsch Goldberg-Polin two days prior to the report. This video was the first evidence that Hirsch, who was seriously injured during the kidnapping, was still alive. The exact date of filming the video is unknown, but Hirsch mentions events that suggest it was filmed on the eve of Passover. Hirsch lost his arm below the elbow during the abduction, which occurred when terrorists threw a grenade into a mobile shelter where he was hiding alongside others.

In a rare interview with Israel’s Channel 2 News, Hirsch described his life before his capture and how it changed after being taken by Hamas militants. He also spoke about his experiences while held captive for nearly 200 days and expressed hope for his safe return amidst ongoing conflict and negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas has claimed responsibility for Hirsch’s kidnapping and demanded that Israel release all Palestinian prisoners in exchange for him being freed. However, Israeli officials have stated that they will not negotiate with terrorist groups who use violence to achieve their goals.

Hirsch’s family has been advocating for his release through various media outlets and pleading with world leaders to intervene in negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

The incident has sparked outrage from international leaders who have condemned Hamas’ actions against civilians and called on them to release Hirsch immediately.

As tensions continue to rise between Israel and Hamas, there are concerns about potential escalation of violence in Gaza Strip.