Hersh Goldberg Pollin, 23, an Israeli-American hostage who was kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova music festival on October 7 and lost his left hand, was found dead in Gaza by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers.
Goldberg-Polin's identity came after news broke on Saturday that the Israel Defense Forces had found several unidentified bodies in the Gaza Strip. As rumors spread across Israel on social media, the IDF urged the public to wait for the bodies to be identified.
The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement:
The Israel Defense Forces have found a number of bodies during fighting in the Gaza Strip. Forces are still operating in the area and efforts to recover and identify the bodies have been ongoing for several hours. We ask that you refrain from spreading rumors.
Israel Army Radio said on Sunday morning local time that Goldberg Polin had been identified as one of the dead, but the immediate cause of death was not determined.
Army Radio also reported that the families of the Israeli hostages Oli DaninoA 25-year-old woman who was kidnapped after rescuing people from a music festival was also identified as one of the dead. Also identified as dead was an Israeli woman, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, who was speaking with her family before being abducted from the festival.
Six bodies have been found, with the remaining three yet to be identified at the time of publication.
Despite the military news being largely formulaic, the radio announcer's voice sounded heavy and tearful.
“Our hearts are broken,” the Goldberg-Polin family said, thanking the public for their support and asking for privacy.
This is terrible news. I cannot imagine the pain his family is feeling right now. May they find the strength to get through this and may his memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/9eAF0JRI20
— Sarai (Sarah Idan) Miss Iraq (@RealSarahIdan) September 1, 2024
Hirsch was one of the iconic hostages, featured prominently in protests and graffiti on buildings in West Jerusalem, where he lived with his family after immigrating to Israel from the United States. He served in the Israel Defense Forces' armored corps and had just finished military service and was enjoying some free time when he was abducted.
Relatives and supporters hold signs and unfurl banners featuring portraits of Israeli hostage Hirsch Goldberg Polin, 23, during a rally calling for the release of the hostages held in Gaza since Hamas' attack on southern Israel on May 7, 2024, in front of the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. (Photo by Ahmad Gharabri/AFP) (Photo by Ahmad Gharabri/AFP via Getty Images)
Goldberg-Polin appeared thin but alive in a video released by Hamas in April as part of an effort to apply psychological pressure on the Israeli people and government to force them into a hostage deal.
Hamas hostage Hersh Goldberg Pollin
Goldberg Pollin's parents have lobbied politicians around the world for his release and met with prominent figures including President Joe Biden and Elon Musk, who visited Israel.
Rachel Goldberg Pollin, mother of Hersh Goldberg Pollin, shows Elon Musk the video of her son's kidnapping, who lost an arm in the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack and remains a hostage. (Haim Zack/GPO)
They also spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago earlier this month, delivering a moving speech urging support for the hostages regardless of political affiliation. (The parents of another American-Israeli hostage, Omer Neutra, spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last month.)
Hersh Goldberg Pollin's parents, John Pollin and Rachel Goldberg, get emotional as they take to the stage to speak during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 21, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Delegates, politicians and Democratic supporters gathered in Chicago for the convention, which culminated with current Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the party's presidential nomination. The Democratic National Convention runs from August 19-22. (Photo by Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
President Biden is unusual. comment On Saturday, they asked officials to wait to notify families of the unidentified bodies found, and it now appears they were told Goldberg-Polin was among those killed.
Biden mourned Goldberg Pollin's death in a statement on Saturday evening, Washington DC local time.
Israeli forces discovered the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas in an underground tunnel in the city of Rafah early today. One of the hostages killed by the vicious Hamas terrorists has been identified as American national Hersh Goldberg Pollin.
I am devastated and outraged. Hersh was one of the innocent people brutally attacked while attending a Music for Peace festival in Israel on October 7th. He lost an arm while helping friends and strangers in a brutal Hamas massacre. He had just turned 23 and was set to travel the world. I got to know his parents, John and Rachel. They were brave, wise and indomitable while enduring unimaginable circumstances. They were relentless and irrepressible advocates for their son and for all hostages held in inhumane conditions. I respect them and grieve with them more deeply than words can express. I know all Americans are praying for them tonight, as are Jill and me. I have worked tirelessly to bring their beloved Hersh safely home to them and am heartbroken by the news of his death. This is as reprehensible as it is tragic. Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay a price for these crimes. And we will continue to work day and night to reach an agreement to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
The Biden administration had opposed Israel's invasion of Rafah, but Israel went ahead with the invasion anyway, convinced that some of the hostages were being held there and that Hamas leaders were hiding underground in the city.
update: IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters that troops found the body one kilometre from where Israeli Arab Bedouin hostage Kaid Farhan al-Qadhi was rescued last week.
Al-Qadi informed the soldiers of the possible locations of the other hostages.
Haghari said it was not yet clear whether Hamas had killed any other hostages in response to the rescue, but said it was clear the hostages were killed by Hamas.
“They were brutally murdered just before we arrived,” he said, hinting at a rescue mission.
This story is unfolding.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday The show airs Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. ET) on SiriusXM Patriot. He is the author of “Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days,” which is available for preorder on Amazon. He also wrote,Trumpian virtue: The lessons and legacy of Donald Trump's presidency” is available on Audible. He is the 2018 recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
Elizabeth Waibel contributed to this story.
