Truce Talks Falter; Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s Father Expresses Discontent with Netanyahu

In a powerful and deeply personal call, Jon Polin father of Hersh Goldberg‑Polin has challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s repeated assertions that military and diplomatic pressure secured the release of 205 hostages held in Gaza. Among those, 20% were seized alive, endured torture, and were killed in captivity including his son Hersh.

Polin’s statement spoke not only for his family, but also for the hundreds of loved ones still waiting: “Please do not take credit for ‘achieving the release’ of Hersh. This is offensive to Hersh and to our family.”

Polin highlighted a crucial detail: Israel had nearly finalized a deal before Hamas brutally killed Hersh and five others last year. That agreement collapsed when, at Netanyahu’s direction, negotiators altered terms at the final hour a move that Polin and other families say sealed the fate of their loved ones.

Now, as renewed truce talks falter, signs point toward a familiar pattern. U.S. and Israeli officials recently expressed optimism that “most issues had been resolved” in negotiations. But sources suggest Netanyahu is again delaying final agreement this time to appease far‑right ministers wary of Hamas outlasting the war.

According to reporting in a major news outlet, Netanyahu has a documented history of intentionally derailing truce deals in order to consolidate political power. Those deals which would have freed hostages like Hersh were abandoned when his far‑right base insisted that the war must end only on Israel’s terms.

On Saturday night, Jerusalem saw a smaller but defiant protest in Polin’s neighborhood. Posters of Hersh lined the streets. Children wore shirts bearing his image. Outside the home of Ron Dermer, the minister leading negotiations, three women stood in solidarity, reading the list of deceased hostages, pausing to highlight Hersh’s name.

They faced a reservist who intervened with a megaphone. Having served 100 days in Gaza, he expressed solidarity in purpose: he too wants the war to end. But he argued that targeting Netanyahu and Dermer in public could embolden Hamas and fuel international condemnation of Israel. One woman responded firmly: “Hamas is the enemy… But these are my allies. I can only speak to them.”

The following day, Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu personally assured two far‑right ministers: if he signs a ceasefire, military operations would resume immediately afterward. Meanwhile, speculation grows that the prime minister is waiting for the Knesset to adjourn at month’s end, buying time until return to parliament is less politically risky.

In total, there are still 50 hostages being held of which around 20 are believed to be alive. They have now spent 647 days in captivity. Across Israel, public support remains high for striking a deal that would free them yet each stalling tactic, each broken pledge, deepens the wound.

Jon Polin’s plea strikes at the heart of a fundamental question: who truly benefits from dragging out truce negotiations? For many families, every day of delay risks another life.

Netanyahu’s government has repeatedly framed its negotiating posture as measured and principled one rooted in both strength and compassion. But when the voices of grieving parents stand in stark contrast with official statements, credibility erodes.

Polin’s words remind us that behind every statistic is a name, a story, a family longing for closure. While the State of Israel has the sacred duty to protect its citizens, it must also safeguard its integrity by acknowledging loss not simply leveraging it for political gain.

Let us honor the memory of Hersh and all those who paid the ultimate price by refusing to let their stories be co-opted. The path forward demands sincerity, transparency, and unwavering commitment to bring every hostage home safely not merely cents on the political balance sheet.

Israel remains a nation of courage and hope. Let our leaders act with both.

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