Ms Goldberg-Polin and her husband John have made it their full-time mission to campaign for the release of their only son. The couple is clad in a plain white T-shirt with the number 207 marked out in duct tape strips, which serves as a stark reminder of the days their son has been in captivity. This number they began wearing after becoming exasperated with reporters asking about the duration of their son’s abduction.
Wearing these numbers signifies the concern that Ms Goldberg-Polin feels may be diminishing for many Israelis as the conflict rages on. She 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 the possibility of 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 a planned offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza, concerns loom regarding the potential repercussions on hostage negotiations and the safety of captives, who are believed to be hidden in underground tunnels in the region. 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.