According to a report by The Times Of Israel, Jonathan Polin, the father of slain hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, said he did not feel joy upon learning that the Hamas commander who captured his son had been killed by the Israeli military.
Hersh, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, was murdered in captivity in August 2024. His death became one of the most painful symbols of the hostage crisis that has gripped Israel since the war began.
On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that its troops had eliminated Muhammad Ahmad Yousef al-Jamal. Al-Jamal was a senior Hamas operative responsible for multiple deadly attacks. He killed police officer Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora during a rescue mission in central Gaza last summer and reportedly oversaw the group that captured Hersh and several others from a roadside bomb shelter, killing several civilians in the process.
Speaking after being notified of al-Jamal’s death, Polin said his reaction was not one of satisfaction. “I reacted much like Michal Zmora did when she wrote ‘I’m still a widow, my children are still orphans,’” he explained, referencing the widow of the slain police officer.
Instead, Polin emphasized the suffering of those still in captivity, particularly Alon Ohel, the only surviving hostage from the same bomb shelter. “My thoughts are with Alon Ohel, the last hostage still alive in captivity from the bomb shelter, who is still surviving, still suffering,” he said.
Polin stressed that the death of one commander would not ease his grief or bring closure. “I don’t celebrate killings. I won’t celebrate until we bring back all the hostages,” he added, underscoring the anguish that continues to weigh on hostage families nearly a year into the war.
He also commented on the emerging peace framework being advanced by US President Donald Trump, which seeks to bring an end to the Gaza conflict and secure the release of captives. While cautious, Polin suggested that such an agreement might offer some relief. “Maybe an agreement could bring me some kind of consolation,” he said.
Polin’s words highlight the enduring pain of families still waiting for news of their loved ones, as well as the difficult balance between military victories and the urgent demand for a diplomatic resolution.