The Unseen Toll of Psychological Warfare
Most people wouldn’t pause their morning routine to wonder how it feels when a loved one reappears, ghostlike, in a propaganda video broadcast from an underground warzone. For Maxim Herkin’s family, however, that nightmare has become a recurring reality. After nearly 600 days in captivity, Herkin—kidnapped from the Nova music festival during the harrowing October 7, 2023, attacks—surfaced once more in a slickly edited video released by Hamas.
Despite the official plea from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum to withhold widespread distribution of the footage—out of respect for the Herkin family’s wishes—the emotional and political impact of such broadcasts is unmistakable. The video’s carefully curated nature is more than just a sign of life; it’s a psychological weapon, calibrated to manipulate emotions in Israel and abroad, and to extract concessions through public pressure. Israeli officials have repeatedly labeled these hostage videos as “psychological warfare,” and for good reason. According to Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker, hostage videos have long been used by militant groups to influence public sentiment and destabilize democratic decision-making.
What stands out in this latest video is the emphasis on Herkin’s medical condition—bandaged, somber, and set against the backdrop of what Hamas claims is a tunnel recently struck by Israeli forces. The imagery reaches far beyond simple documentation. A closer look reveals a calculated attempt to project both vulnerability and endurance, aiming to elicit sympathy, outrage, and—most consequentially—political pressure on Israeli leaders to revisit prisoner swaps or ceasefire negotiations.
The Human Story Behind the Headlines
It’s easy to lose sight of the individuals involved when political calculations enter the mix. Maxim Herkin is not just a pawn in a geopolitical standoff. Born in Ukraine, he immigrated to Israel with his mother and younger brother, building a life with his partner and their four-year-old daughter before being swept up in violence not of his choosing. Two of his friends were killed on that same fateful day.
Herkin’s name reached the international stage this past February, when senior Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh told Russia’s TASS news agency that Moscow’s request for Herkin’s release would be considered—if only Israel would send a delegation to Doha for negotiations. Is this diplomacy, or just another cruel facet of psychological operations in the shadow of war? The answer, rarely simple, points to the tragic interplay between real lives and political interests.
Families of hostages exist in a liminal state: clinging to hope each time a video surfaces while enduring the slow erosion of faith in eventual release. That uncertainty exacts a psychological cost both unseen and immeasurable.
“Every new video is a double-edged sword. It revives hope—he’s alive!—but it tortures us, never knowing when it will end, or if he will come home.” — Member of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum
Progressive advocates aren’t wrong to emphasize that hostage policy should prioritize the welfare of individuals like Herkin rather than bow to the optics game of extremist groups. History is replete with moments where aggressive response to terrorism—driven by public outrage stoked by such videos—led to greater instability. The 2004 Madrid bombings and the Israeli hostage crisis in Entebbe are sobering reminders of how delicate, sometimes tragic, the balance can be.
Propaganda’s Peril and the Politics of Compassion
Conservative policies often call for absolute refusal to engage with groups like Hamas, branding any negotiation as capitulation. Yet this hardline approach, coupled with a relentless march of military responses, has often failed to secure the release of living hostages. History and expert analysis suggest that dogmatic inflexibility rarely benefits the vulnerable. Rather, it can increase their suffering by prolonging standoffs and fueling even more propaganda cycles.
Israeli officials and the media walk a tightrope: show too much, and risk becoming complicit in the militants’ PR strategy; show too little, and risk forgetting those still trapped in Gaza’s tunnels. Advocacy groups, such as the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, urge restraint and compassion in coverage. Their demand isn’t just humanitarian. According to a 2023 Pew Research study, public exposure to hostage videos correlates with spikes in anxiety, polarization, and support for radical measures—often creating a climate that impedes level-headed diplomatic engagement.
What would a solution rooted in progressive values look like? It would start by reaffirming the dignity and humanity of every hostage—a principle as vital for peace as it is for politics. International involvement, moral clarity, and consistent pressure on all parties for a lasting ceasefire represent a path toward reducing harm and restoring hope, not exploiting tragedy for political gain.
Beyond the headlines and viral videos, this crisis is a test of what kind of society we aspire to build. One anchored in collective empathy, justice, and refusal to allow pain to become spectacle. That’s the message families like Maxim Herkin’s are asking the world to hear.
