Heartbreaking Tragedy: Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Five Others Found Dead in Gaza
Rachel Goldberg and Jonathan Polin, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin who was taken hostage during the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, attended a protest near Kibbutz Nirim, close to the Gaza border, on Aug. 29, 2024, urging the release of their son and other captives. Tragically, Hersh’s body, along with five other hostages, was recovered Saturday from a tunnel under Rafah. Hersh, a 23-year-old Israeli American, lost his arm in a grenade blast during the Supernova music festival attack. The Goldberg-Polin family expressed their heartbreak and requested privacy.
President Joe Biden condemned the loss, expressing devastation and outrage, and vowed to hold Hamas accountable for their crimes. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified the other hostages as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Master Sgt. Ori Danino. IDF and Shin Bet forces retrieved their bodies, emphasizing the continued risk of additional hostages in the area due to the lack of precise location data.
Messages of sympathy poured in from officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Goldberg-Polin’s parents have been vocal advocates for hostages’ release, joining protests and making a plea at the Democratic National Convention. Their efforts reflect the wider anguish of families affected by the hostilities.
The crisis has intensified pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to broker a cease-fire with Hamas to secure the hostages’ freedom. To date, over 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 250 were taken hostage in the initial attack. The ensuing conflict has caused significant casualties in Gaza, drawing international criticism and further isolating Netanyahu. Approximately 100 hostages are still held by Hamas.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum criticized Netanyahu for not securing the release of the abductees, promising more protests. President Biden recently called for an end to the conflict, suggesting that an agreement might be imminent.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/01/israeli-american-hersh-goldberg-polin-among-six-hostages-found-dead-in-gaza.html
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