The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group representing those held captive in Gaza and their families, has issued a statement saying that “time is running out” to ensure that all captives are returned.
The statement was in response to a video released by Hamas showing 23-year-old Israeli-American, Hersch Goldberg-Polin, who has been held in Gaza by Hamas for the duration of the war.
“With each passing day, the fear of losing more innocent lives grows stronger,” the statement read.
It added, “All the hostages must be brought home – those alive to begin the process of rehabilitation, and those murdered for a dignified burial.”
“This distressing video serves as an urgent call to take swift and decisive action to resolve this horrific humanitarian crisis and ensure the safe return of our loved ones.”
Hostages and Missing Families Forum
Mass protests have flooded the streets of cities around Israel on a weekly basis, demanding that Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government do more to bring home the captives, and more recently for an end to the war in Gaza and for new elections in Israel.
The nearly three-minute video of Hersh Goldberg-Polin shows him openly criticizing Netanyahu.
In the video, he appears to say that the Israeli Prime Minister is “not doing enough, blames him for not getting the captives out.”
Goldberg-Polin, who was missing his left arm below the elbow, said in the propaganda video that 70 hostages had been killed in Israeli bombing.
“Remember, of course, when these videos are released, they are not speaking freely. They are being told what they can and cannot say by their captors,” a reporter noted.
According to the footage, Goldberg-Polin said that is been “underground” for about 200 days, so there is “no fixed time on the video,” the reporter revealed, adding that it is the first video of its kind in about three months.
Nepal’s President, Ram Chandra Poudel asked Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is on a two-day visit to the South Asian country, to help release a Nepali student taken captive in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2024.
Joshi was among 17 Nepali students studying agriculture in Alumim kibbutz, which is near the Gaza Strip, when the attack happened. Ten of the students were killed, six were injured, while Joshi was taken as a captive to Gaza.
There has been no information about his whereabouts, but Nepali officials believe he is still alive.
Qatar has played a key mediator role during Israel’s war on Gaza, helping to negotiate a brief truce that led to the release of dozens of captives and Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Israel To Leave No Stone Unturned In Captives Release
Israeli military Spokesman, Daniel Hagari asserted that the army “will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to find our hostages.”
Hagari said that the Israeli army will “continue to pursue Hamas everywhere in Gaza”, as fears mount over a looming ground invasion of Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, where more than 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering.
“This is an urgent call for action,” he added.
His comments come hours after Hamas released a video of Israeli-American captive Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who is currently being held in Gaza.
Following the release of the footage, hundreds of protesters marched towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem demanding immediate action.
Meanwhile, Israeli government Spokesman, David Mencer stated that it is “moving ahead” with its planned military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
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