The fate of 120 Israeli hostages remains uncertain in Gaza, casting doubt over a purported ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas. A Hamas official claims ignorance of the hostages’ well-being, alleging Israeli actions have endangered their lives. Negotiations on a US-backed ceasefire proposal have hit a snag, with Hamas rejecting Israel’s short-term ceasefire and demanding a permanent end to hostilities, among other conditions.
Protests demanding the release of hostages descended into chaos in Jerusalem, resulting in confrontations between demonstrators and police. Protesters overturned garbage cans, set fires, and blocked traffic, while police responded with force. The situation escalated after the release of a new video showing the hostages.
The White House has been in contact with the family of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, promptly informing them of a newly released video. The US received the video from Qatar prior to its public release by Hamas, and the FBI and White House Special Hostage Team are currently analyzing it. Qatar’s involvement as an intermediary in the hostage situation has been significant, with Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani prioritizing Goldberg-Polin’s case at the request of the American government. The release of the signs of life has strategic implications, allowing Hamas to appease Qatar and the Biden administration while pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. For Qatar, the political achievement of facilitating the hostage negotiations highlights their role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas has released a video of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who has been missing for over 200 days. In the video, Goldberg-Polin is seen missing his left arm below the elbow, consistent with reports that his arm was blown off while he was trying to throw grenades out of a bunker. Goldberg-Polin accuses the Israeli government of neglecting him and other hostages and says that the ongoing military campaign in Gaza has killed about 70 hostages like him. The footage is likely propaganda, intended to pressure Israel to make a deal with Hamas instead of continuing its military operations. The Israeli government believes that 33 of the remaining 129 hostages in Gaza are dead.
A newly released Hamas propaganda video showcasing signs of life from captured Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin has ignited outrage and protests demanding government action for the release of all hostages. Goldberg-Polin, who suffered a lost hand and alleged mistreatment, implored the Israeli government to prioritize the hostages’ plight and return them home. His words fueled protests near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence, where demonstrators held posters of hostages and condemned the government’s handling of the crisis.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization, has released a propaganda video showing Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin on their Telegram channel. The video, which cannot be independently verified, shows Goldberg-Polin reading from a script prepared by Hamas, recounting his capture during an attack on a music festival. Hamas has a history of releasing videos of hostages in an attempt to pressure the Israeli government and wage psychological warfare.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, arrived in Nepal on Tuesday for his first-ever visit to the country. During his two-day visit, the Emir is expected to discuss the working conditions of Nepalese migrant workers in Qatar, as well as the ongoing hostage crisis involving a Nepalese student held by Hamas. Around 400,000 Nepali workers, mostly employed in construction and manual labor, are currently in Qatar. Concerns have been raised regarding extreme heat, inadequate living facilities, and abuse faced by these workers. The Qatar-based Human Rights Watch has urged Qatar, Nepal, and Bangladesh to prioritize labor protection for migrant workers. Additionally, Nepali officials are likely to seek the Emir’s assistance in securing the release of Bipin Joshi, a local held hostage by Hamas since October. The militant group had captured Joshi along with other Nepalese students studying near the Gaza Strip. The Emir’s visit comes amid Qatar’s ongoing role as a mediator in the Gaza conflict. The country has played a key role in negotiating a brief halt to the fighting in November, leading to the release of hostages.
Rabbi Sanford D. Akselrad of Congregation Ner Tamid in Henderson, Nevada, emphasized the importance of universal freedom during a Passover Seder attended by about 250 people. The focus was on the hostages still held captive by Hamas terrorists in Israel, and an empty table with posters of the hostages served as a reminder of their absence. U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, a member of Congregation Ner Tamid, discussed efforts to bring the hostages home and provide aid to Gaza and Ukraine. The Seder took on a different meaning this year, with attendees acknowledging that true freedom could not be celebrated while hostages remained in captivity.
Passover, the Jewish holiday commemorating freedom from slavery, was observed in Israel under the shadow of ongoing conflict and the continued detention of 133 hostages by Hamas. While some families marked the holiday with traditional rituals and symbolic acts of remembrance, others protested outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home, demanding a deal to release the hostages.
