Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage by Hamas nearly 11 months ago, was found dead in Gaza along with five other hostages. President Joe Biden expressed his condolences, stating that Goldberg-Polin lost his arm during a music festival for peace in a brutal Hamas attack. His parents have been vocal in their efforts to bring him and the other hostages home, launching a social media campaign and making media appearances.
Goldberg-Polin was born in the United States and moved to Israel at a young age. He was a fan of the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team and had plans to travel the world before his tragic death at the age of 23. His parents have continuously urged Netanyahu and the international community to focus on the plight of their son and the other hostages.
Video footage showed Goldberg-Polin injured by a grenade blast during the music festival attack, and he was later seen in a video released by Hamas in April. His mother called for compromise and an end to suffering on both sides of the conflict. Despite the challenges, his parents, along with other American hostage families, remained hopeful and continued their efforts to bring their loved ones home.
Biden expressed his devastation and outrage at Goldberg-Polin’s death, acknowledging his parents’ relentless advocacy. Approximately 250 people were taken hostage in the attack, and over 1,200 people were killed in Israel, with more than 40,000 people killed in the military response. The families of the hostages continue to push for their safe return as they cope with the tragedy.
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