The parents of slain hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin continue to seek an agreement to bring the remaining hostages home

Hersh Goldberg-Polin he was one of hundreds of hostages taken by Hamas when it attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. The 23-year-old Israeli-American was held captive for more than 300 days before he was killed in late August by his captors as Israeli soldiers. they were entering.

His parents, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, have become leading words in an effort to bring their son and other hostages home, and told CBS News that they will continue to represent the approximately 100 people still in captivity in the Gaza Strip.

Hersh was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival on October 7, and about six months later, by Hamas. he released his live video. But in August, Israeli soldiers found his body, and five other hostagesin the tunnel in Gaza.

The dignity and courage of his parents never wavered, even when they heard how Hamas killed their son.

“He had a bullet that went through his hand. …The gun was so close that the bullet was able to go through his hand, through his neck and out the side of his head,” said Rachel Goldberg-Polin. “Then he fell, and they put a gun to the back of his head. And the exit wound from that gun was on top of his head.”

He said his son, although he was about a foot tall, weighed 115 pounds when he was buried last month. She said she didn’t really want to know the gruesome details of her son’s death at first, but then she realized how small his body looked at the funeral.

“I think that is very important, first of all, for people to understand how these hostages are kept and treated, because we have these 101 who are still there,” he said.

The Goldberg-Polins both blame their son’s death on Hamas, but both say they feel they have been let down by the leadership of Israel, America and the world.

“There is a role that world leaders can play and we feel like we’ve failed,” said Jon Polin “We’ve failed Israeli leaders. We’ve failed all world leaders. And we hope that now we can turn this into action while it’s still possible to save 101 [hostages]. … We sat and waited for the presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers of those countries to go up to the stage with their arms armed, and say that our people should be released. And that didn’t happen. It still hasn’t happened. Maybe now it’s possible. Maybe they will use this as a fix. “

He also emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution to return those who are still in custody.

“In 369 days, seven hostages came out through a military operation. More than 100 came out through negotiations. It is clear that what we have to do. Some people have this idea that, the idea of ​​the military will come out. To carry 101 hostages, many people understand that in order to get these people out, it will require an agreement to negotiate in some way,” he said.

In their personal lives, the Goldberg-Polins are now struggling to adjust to life without their son.

“I’m stuck in this place mentally, where I’m afraid to turn around and look back,” Rachel Goldberg-Polin told CBS News. “And I’m scared of trying to get on with life without Hersh.

“I moved my chair from our breakfast table,” he added. “So I sat where Hersh used to sit because I didn’t want to see him not in his seat.”

“It is very confusing now because we were there for a long time before he was killed,” he said. “But there’s always been this feeling, there’s this hope and this hope that we’re going to find him. We’re going to find him home.”

The couple is still focused on helping bring the remaining hostages home safely. But as the war is increasingthere seems to be little political intent to negotiate at this point on either side. They hope that changes.

“I’m very hopeful that within that escalation, that there is an opportunity – meaning that whatever happens in Lebanon, it’s bad for everybody. The whole region is burning. Whatever happened with Iran last week firing 180 ballistic missiles at Israel; are you – Israel will take revenge? … Maybe there is a place to say everyone, no one is doing well now we will stop this,” said Rachel Goldberg-Polin.

The couple, who are Orthodox Jews, say they have seen an outpouring of support from the Jewish community and many Christians around the world. Despite this tragedy, both of them still find comfort in their faith.

“My faith in God has not diminished,” said Rachel Goldberg-Palin. “My faith in people has gone, because I felt, I feel that people can do more.”