Rachel Goldberg, whose son is one of the unreleased Israeli hostages, thinks Elon Musk’s visit to her country was a sincere effort to better understand what she and so many other families are going through.
Rachel Goldberg joined us Wednesday on “TMZ Live” to discuss the ongoing release of women and children held by Hamas for more than 7 weeks. Dozens have been returned to Israel in recent days, during a temporary ceasefire that’s currently set to end this week.
Her own son, Hersch Goldberg-Polin, has yet to see freedom — and yet, Rachel has continued to be a front-facing unofficial spokesperson on behalf of all the hostage families … a painstaking reality she says she struggles with daily.
Rachel says that while Hamas still has her own flesh and blood captive, she recognizes the value of serving as a voice for everyone else — and thinks it’s her duty to continue doing so.
As for Elon — who’s been criticized for using Israel in a cold PR move after he was accused of antisemitism — Rachel tells us she actually believes his heart’s in the right place, and, to her, he came across as earnestly interested in learning/sympathizing.
Rachel was among a few family members of hostages who showed them footage from Oct. 7 … including the horrifying moment Hersch was snatched up by Hamas after his left arm was blown apart during the attack.
She also talked about the ongoing protests in the U.S. and beyond … namely, pro-Palestine ones, where people have decried Israel’s response in Gaza, and its treatment of innocent Palestinians caught in the middle of the war.
Rachel’s response might surprise some … she says she actually feels for the innocent Palestinians — and even says Palestine does, in fact, have a right to operate as its own state with dignity and freedom.
Her rationale boils down to the ol’ two-things-can-be-true-at-once POV, and she says if she can say that about Gaza/Palestine … it should also be easy for folks to condemn Hamas’ violence.
Rachel Goldberg, mother of unreleased Israeli hostage, speaks out on Elon Musk’s visit to Israel
Rachel Goldberg, a mother of one of the unreleased Israeli hostages held by Hamas, recently addressed the media to share her thoughts on Elon Musk’s visit to Israel. Musk’s visit has stirred up controversy, with many criticizing him for using Israel in a cold PR move after being accused of antisemitism. However, Goldberg believes that Musk’s visit was a sincere effort to better understand the situation of the hostage families in Israel.
In an interview with TMZ Live, Goldberg discussed the ongoing release of women and children held by Hamas for more than seven weeks. While dozens have been returned to Israel in recent days, her own son, Hersch Goldberg-Polin, is still in captivity. Despite her personal struggle, Goldberg has continued to be a front-facing unofficial spokesperson on behalf of all the hostage families, recognizing the value of serving as a voice for everyone else.
Goldberg’s heartfelt response to Musk’s visit and her dedication to advocating for the release of the hostages sheds light on the emotional and difficult circumstances that the hostage families are facing. She also expressed understanding and empathy for the innocent Palestinians caught in the middle of the conflict, highlighting the complexity of the situation in Gaza.
During the interview, Goldberg also highlighted the ongoing protests in the U.S. and beyond, particularly pro-Palestine demonstrations, where people have decried Israel’s response in Gaza. She believes that Palestine has a right to operate as its own state with dignity and freedom, emphasizing the need for compassion for all those affected by the conflict.
Goldberg’s perspective challenges the one-sided narrative often presented in the media, encouraging others to acknowledge the complexities of the situation and the suffering experienced by both Israeli hostages and innocent Palestinians. Despite the challenges she faces, Goldberg’s unwavering dedication to being a voice for the hostage families and her willingness to empathize with all those affected by the conflict serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of compassion in the midst of adversity.
