Hersh Goldberg-Polin—an American citizen who was held hostage by Hamas and whose parents had been vocal advocates for his return—was confirmed to be among the six hostages found dead in the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, pictured on screen speak during the ... [+]
Goldberg-Polin, 23, was found dead with five other hostages by the Israel Defense Forces on Saturday in a tunnel under Rafah, the IDF said.
He was one of the hostages taken from the music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7 during Hamas’ initial attack, and Hamas posted a video of him in April showing that he lost part of his left arm.
Goldberg-Polin was from Berkeley, California, and he had become well-known as his parents Jon and Rachel have been outspoken about the return of the hostages taken from Israel—they spoke at the Democratic National Convention and had met with world leaders to advocate for a cease-fire and hostage release deal.
The Goldberg-Polin family confirmed Hersh’s death in a statement, saying they were “devastated” and asking for “privacy at this time,” CNN reported.
President Joe Biden said in a statement he is “devastated and outraged” and praised Hersh’s parents, who he said “have been relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all the hostages held in unconscionable conditions.”
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