Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the mother of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, has voiced her concerns over the continued captivity of 132 hostages by Hamas militants in Gaza. She emphasized the urgent need for creative solutions to end the suffering of both Gazan civilians and the hostages. Goldberg-Polin also expressed her belief that the U.S. should not be considered a neutral negotiator in the conflict, as American citizens were also victims of the October 7 attack that sparked the ongoing war. Despite warnings against a major military assault on Rafah, considered the last refuge for Hamas and civilians fleeing violence, Israeli forces have been engaged in intense battles in the area.