Ms Goldberg-Polin and her husband John have devoted their time to campaigning for the release of their only son, making it a full-time effort. When she sat down for an interview with The Telegraph, Ms Goldberg-Polin, a petite woman with a tidy bun of silver hair, was wearing a plain white T-shirt with the number 207 marked out in duct tape strips. This was a way for the couple to keep track of the days their son had been in captivity, a number they began wearing after becoming exasperated with reporters asking about the duration of their son’s abduction.
Wearing these numbers serves as a stark reminder of the hostages’ plight, a concern that the Goldberg-Polins feel may be diminishing for many Israelis as the conflict rages on. Ms Goldberg-Polin explained that the stickers make people uneasy, as they should be since every passing day signifies a failure to secure their loved ones’ release. With Israeli leaders touting progress in hostage negotiations, Ms Goldberg-Polin expressed skepticism, having experienced numerous similar moments during seven months of war that ultimately led to nothing substantial.
Despite some optimism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about an offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza, concerns loom regarding potential repercussions on hostage negotiations and captives’ safety. Hersh’s parents experienced anxiety when Hamas released a teaser screenshot of the video featuring their son shortly before its full unveiling. Given previous videos showing deceased hostages allegedly killed by Israeli bombing raids, there is fear that this latest release could further escalate tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.