Nearly 11 months after being taken hostage by Hamas, Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin was found dead in Gaza along with five other hostages. President Joe Biden confirmed that the bodies were recovered in a tunnel under Rafah, and the hostages were killed by Hamas shortly before Israeli forces could reach them. Goldberg-Polin was attending a music festival for peace in Israel when he was brutally attacked, losing his arm in the process. The 23-year-old had plans to travel the world and was remembered as a fan of the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team. He was born in the U.S. and moved to Israel with his family when he was 7 years old.
The Israel Defense Forces identified the five other hostages killed as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Master Sgt. Ori Danino. Goldberg-Polin’s family, along with the families of the other hostages, have been vocal in their efforts to bring them home, launching a social media campaign and making regular media appearances. They have urged the Israeli government and the international community to focus on the plight of their loved ones. Video footage of the attack on the music festival showed Goldberg-Polin being injured by a grenade blast that blew off his left forearm. He was then seen being taken to Gaza during the chaos.
A video released by Hamas’ military wing in April showed Goldberg-Polin, although it was unclear under what circumstances the video was recorded or whether he spoke of his own accord. His mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, called for compromise to stop the suffering on both sides, believing that innocent people were paying the price in Israel and Gaza. His father, Jon Polin, said that seeing the video of his son encouraged them to keep fighting for his release. The parents joined other American hostage families during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C., to plead for the return of their loved ones, and later at the Democratic National Convention.
Biden expressed devastation and outrage at Goldberg-Polin’s death, acknowledging the relentless efforts of his parents to bring him home. He stated that all Americans would have the parents in their prayers and emphasized the tragedy and reprehensibility of the situation. Goldberg-Polin’s abduction had caused immense anguish for his family and the other hostage families, with his mother describing the pain they were enduring. The loss of Goldberg-Polin has been a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict and the toll it takes on individuals and families. Biden reiterated his commitment to working towards resolving such crises and bringing an end to the suffering.
