OAN Staff Avril Elfi
Sunday, September 1, 2024, 9:19 a.m.
The bodies of six hostages were found in a tunnel in the Gaza Strip, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg Pollin.
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President Joe Biden confirmed on Saturday that the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas had been found in a tunnel in Rafah.
“I am heartbroken and outraged,” Biden said in a statement.
“Hirsh was one of the innocent people brutally attacked while attending the Music for Peace Festival in Israel on October 7th. He lost an arm while trying to help friends and strangers in a brutal Hamas massacre,” he continued. “Make no mistake, Hamas' leaders will pay a price for these crimes.”
Goldberg-Polin's family also confirmed their son's death in a statement.
“It is with heavy hearts that the Goldberg-Polin family announces the passing of our beloved son and brother, Hirsch,” they said in a statement. “The family thanks everyone for their love and support and asks that you respect their privacy at this time.”
The other five victims have been identified as Oli Danino, 25, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Almog Sarsi, 27, and Alexander Lobanov, 33, all of whom were kidnapped from a music festival during the Hamas attack on October 7.Number The attack: Carmel Gatto, 40, was kidnapped from her rural village near Beeri.
“They were brutally murdered just before we were able to rescue them,” Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said.
The news comes just 10 days after Goldberg-Polin's parents attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and gave a speech urging their son to “stay strong” and “survive.”
“This is a political rally, but this is not a political issue because we need to bring our only son and all our precious hostages home. This is a humanitarian issue,” his father, John Pollin, said.
Amid applause, Hirsch's mother, Rachel, bowed her head, touched her chest and said, “Hirsh, if you can hear us, we love you. Stay strong and keep hanging on.”
Israel estimated that 108 hostages, including dual nationals and Israelis, were still in Gaza before the bodies were found, and officials believe about a third of them have died.
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