Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Thursday that “everybody has failed” when it comes to securing the release of hostages held in Gaza, including their son Hersh Goldberg-Polin, and the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American, was wounded and kidnapped by Hamas at an Israeli music festival.
“Our leaders, all of them, have failed to make this suffering on all sides stop,” Rachel Goldberg told CNN.
“We feel that we as parents have failed ’cause, as a parent your job is to keep your children safe and, if they get into trouble, to save them,” she added.
It has been 181 days since Goldberg-Polin was kidnapped by Hamas. His parents wear a badge that is updated daily to represent the days since Hersh was taken into Gaza.
Jon Polin said he couldn’t help but feel that day 181 would become 281, 381, and even 581.
“We can’t allow that to happen, but world leaders don’t seem to have that sense of urgency,” Polin said.
Goldberg said she often feels she is not “living on the same planet as ‘normal’ people,” as she and her husband are constantly strategizing on how to best bring their son home.
A video of Goldberg-Polin being kidnapped, which his parents have seen, shows his left hand and part of his arm either blown or shot off.
When asked by Cooper if they had received any word about their son’s condition, Goldberg said there has been none, but there is an assumption, based on information from hostages who have been released, that Goldberg-Polin received medical treatment on October 7.
“The assumption is that he is alive,” Goldberg added.
Sumber: www.cnn.com
