Washington, Sept. 1, 2024 – Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin was among six hostages held by Hamas-led militants in Gaza whose bodies were recovered by Israel’s military, his family and the White House said early Sunday.
The bodies were found in a tunnel under the city of Rafah, near the border with Egypt.
The Hostages Families Forum, a group representing the families, said they had been “murdered in the last few days, after surviving almost 11 months of abuse, torture and starvation in Hamas captivity.”
Israeli Military Spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, said the six captives were killed by Hamas “shortly before we reached them.”
He did not specify how they died. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized for not bringing them home alive.
Goldberg-Polin, 23, a native of California, was among more than 200 people captured by militants in the Oct. 7 attack on Israeli border communities in which almost 1,200 people also died.
He was taken at gunpoint from the Nova music festival. During the ordeal part of his arm was blown off by a grenade, his friends previously told USA TODAY.
“With broken hearts, the Goldberg-Polin family is devastated to announce the death of their beloved son and brother, Hersh. The family thanks you all for your love and support and asks for privacy at this time,” the family said in a statement.
Israel’s military named the other recovered hostages as Carmel Gat, 40, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Alexander Lobanov, 32, Almog Sarusi, 27, and Master Sgt. Ori Danino, 25.
In a statement, President Joe Biden said he was “devastated and outraged” by the news.
“Hersh was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a music festival for peace,” he said.
Biden paid tribute to Goldberg-Polin in his statement.
“He had planned to travel the world,” Biden said. “I have gotten to know his parents, Jon and Rachel. They have been courageous, wise, and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable. They have been relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all the hostages held in unconscionable conditions.”
Vice President Kamala Harris called Hamas an “evil terrorist organization” and said in a statement that the militant group now has “even more American blood on its hands.” Hamas must be eliminated and no allowed to control Gaza, she said.
“I strongly condemn Hamas’ continued brutality, and so must the entire world,” the statement said. “From its massacre of 1,200 people to sexual violence, taking of hostages, and these murders, Hamas’ depravity is evident and horrifying.”
Netanyahu expressed “deep regret” to Oxana and Grigory Lobanov, the parents of Alexander Lobanov that Israeli forces were unable to rescue their son and the other hostages.
“I would like to tell you how much I regret and request forgiveness for not succeeding in bringing Sasha back alive,” Netanyahu told the couple in phone call, according to a readout provided by his office.
Netanyahu planned to speak Sunday to the families of all the hostages whose bodies were recovered in the tunnel, although Israel’s Channel 12 reported that two of the families refused to take Netanyahu’s calls. (USA TODAY)