Rachel Goldberg and Jonathan Polin, dad and mom of Hersh Goldberg-Polin who was taken hostage within the Oct. 7 Hamas assaults, attend an indication by the households of individuals taken captive calling for his or her launch, close to Kibbutz Nirim in southern Israel by the border with Gaza on Aug. 29, 2024.
Jack Guez | AFP | Getty Pictures
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American taken hostage within the Oct. 7 Hamas terror assaults, is amongst six hostages whose our bodies had been recovered Saturday.
“With damaged hearts, the Goldberg-Polin household is devastated to announce the loss of life of their beloved son and brother, Hersh. The household thanks you all on your love and help and asks for privateness presently,” a household consultant mentioned.
President Joe Biden mentioned the our bodies of Goldberg-Polin and 5 different hostages held by Hamas had been recovered in a tunnel underneath Rafah.
“I’m devastated and outraged,” Biden mentioned within the assertion.
The Israel Protection Forces recognized the hostages as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Grasp Sgt. Ori Danino.
It mentioned the IDF and Shin Wager recovered the our bodies from the tunnel and introduced them again to Israeli territory. It mentioned all had been taken hostage on Oct. 7 and murdered by Hamas within the Gaza Strip.
“The IDF and ISA ship their heartfelt condolences to the households,” it mentioned. “The IDF and Israeli safety forces are working with all means to carry residence all of the hostages as quick as potential.”
Goldberg-Polin, 23, was amongst these taken hostage throughout the assault on the Supernova music competition within the Israeli desert, and misplaced his arm in a grenade blast.
His dad and mom have been seen and outspoken advocates for bringing the hostages residence, together with an impassioned plea for his launch throughout the Democratic Nationwide Conference
“They’ve been relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all of the hostages held in unconscionable circumstances. I like them and grieve with them extra deeply than phrases can categorical,” Biden mentioned. “Make no mistake, Hamas leaders pays for these crimes. And we are going to preserve working across the clock for a deal to safe the discharge of the remaining hostages.”
Earlier Saturday, Biden referred to as for an finish to the struggle.
“We should always finish this struggle,” Biden mentioned. “I feel we’re on the verge of getting an settlement. And it is simply time to finish it. It is time to end it.”
Vice President Kamala Harris mourned Goldberg-Polin’s loss of life, staying in an announcement that her prayers are along with his dad and mom and “everybody who knew and beloved Hersh.” She additionally strongly condemned Hamas, calling it “an evil terrorist group” that now has “much more American blood on its fingers.”
“The risk Hamas poses to the folks of Israel—and Americans in Israel—should be eradicated and Hamas can’t management Gaza,” she mentioned within the assertion, which was in her official capability as vice chairman, not her presidential marketing campaign.
Messages of heartbreak and outrage from Biden administration officers and politicians started pouring in late Saturday.
“Our hearts break for Jon, Rachel, and their complete household, in addition to the opposite households who discovered as we speak their family members will not be coming residence. Might their reminiscence be a blessing,” mentioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken, invoking a phrase Jews use to mourn the lifeless.
Goldberg-Polin’s dad and mom, together with the households of different hostages, have relentlessly urged Netanyahu and the Israeli authorities, in addition to the worldwide group, to deal with the plight of their family members.
After Hamas’ navy wing launched video in April of Goldberg-Polin in captivity, his mom, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mentioned she believed Netanyahu’s authorities ought to compromise to cease the struggling in each Israel and Gaza.
In July, Goldberg-Polin’s dad and mom joined the households of different American hostages throughout Netanyahu’s D.C. go to to once more share their message: Convey the hostages residence now.
On the Democratic Nationwide Conference final week, his dad and mom once more pleaded for his return.
“Since then, we stay on one other planet,” mentioned Rachel Goldberg-Polin about her son’s abduction. “Anybody who’s a guardian or has had a guardian can attempt to think about the anguish and distress that Jon and I and all of the hostage households are enduring.”
In a assertion on X, the Hostage and Lacking Households Discussion board pointed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who it mentioned “deserted the abductees! That is now a reality.”
“Beginning tomorrow the nation will tremble. We name on the general public to organize. We’re blocking the nation,” the assertion mentioned. The Discussion board mentioned it can share extra particulars Sunday morning.
Netanyahu faces mounting stress in Israel and world wide to achieve a cease-fire deal with Hamas that may safe the discharge of the hostages and finish combating in Gaza.
Over 1,200 folks had been killed in Israel and round 250 others taken hostage throughout Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror assault.
The devastation and humanitarian disaster within the Gaza Strip, the place well being officers mentioned greater than 40,000 folks have been killed in Israel’s navy offensive, has drawn worldwide condemnation and remoted Netanyahu on the worldwide stage.
Round 100 hostages stay in Hamas custody.
Within the 10 months for the reason that assault, some hostages had been launched by way of diplomatic agreements, some had been rescued throughout IDF operations, and a few had been killed or died in captivity. The plight of the hostages has roiled Israeli society, sparking protests and anger that Netanyahu has not reached a cease-fire settlement that may carry them residence.
It is a creating story. Please examine again for updates.
