Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday paid tribute to Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg Pollin and apologized “on behalf of the State of Israel” following Hamas' killing of six hostages over the weekend.
“Dear Hersch, with a torn and broken heart, I stand here today as president of Israel to say goodbye to you and to ask forgiveness from you, from Carmel, from Eden, from Almog, from Alex, from Ori and from all your loved ones,” Herzog said from the podium at Golberg-Porin's funeral in Jerusalem.
“On behalf of the State of Israel, I apologize for not being able to protect you during the tragic disaster of October 7th, for not being able to bring you home safely,” Herzog continued. “I apologize that the country you emigrated to at age 7, draped in the Israeli flag, failed to keep you safe. I apologize to Rachel, John, beloved Libby and Ollie, my grandparents, and all of our family, for not being able to bring Hirsch home alive. Your special light, Hirsch, captivated us all from the moment we first laid eyes on him, even through the posters clamoring for his return.”
“Most of us did not have the chance to know you in life, but you have lived among us for 11 months now, along with so many other brothers and sisters taken captive by accursed and cruel killers, since Simhat Torah, which turned into our day of disaster,” he said. “Know this: we are witnesses and we will never forget. There is not a door in the world that your beloved family has not knocked on for you, for your deliverance and happiness. They used every means, they cried out every prayer and plea from one end of the world to the other, to be heard by God and by people.”
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Jonathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg, the parents of slain American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg Polin, whose body was recovered in Gaza along with five other hostages, attended his funeral in Jerusalem on September 2, 2024. (GIL COHEN-MAGEN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Herzog told mourners that the state of Israel has “urgent and pressing challenges.”
“Decision-makers must have the determination and courage to do everything they can to save those who can still be saved and to bring back all of our sons, daughters, brothers and sisters,” he said. “This is not a political goal and it should not become a political debate. This is the highest moral, Jewish and humanitarian obligation that the State of Israel owes to its people.”
“We failed in this obligation, and now we have a sacred and shared duty to rise up and bring them all home to their homeland – for the sake of Israeli spirit, resilience and unity,” Herzog added. “Of course, we never forget for a moment our obligation to hold accountable the despicable killers who massacred you, your friends, our sisters and our brothers, Mr. Hersh. Here again, the mission is clear and binding: continue to relentlessly fight the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has once again proven that there is no end to its atrocities and crimes against humanity.”
Thousands attended the funeral Monday for Goldberg Pollin, a 23-year-old from Berkeley, California, who was one of the most well-known hostages and whose parents led a high-profile campaign to free them, met with President Biden and Pope Francis and spoke at the Democratic National Convention last month, according to the Associated Press.
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Biden, who was on vacation for the second straight week, returned to the White House on Monday morning from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met in the Situation Room with the hostage deal negotiating team following Hamas' killing of Goldberg Pollin and five other hostages on Saturday.
Goldberg Polin, a dual American-Israeli citizen, was arrested at a music festival in southern Israel.l Israeli forces discovered his body in a tunnel beneath Rafah during a Hamas attack on October 7. The bodies also included Israelis Carmel Gatto, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarsi and Sergeant Ori Danino. According to the Israeli military, Hamas terrorists killed the six hostages as Israeli forces closed in on them during a rescue operation in Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces said American hostage Hersh Goldberg Pollin (top left) and five others were “brutally murdered” by Hamas just before they were rescued. (Fox News)
A Pentagon statement said Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday and “expressed deep condolences to the families of all the hostages killed and outrage at the brutal, illegal and immoral executions at the hands of Hamas. The Secretary made it clear that Hamas leaders must be held accountable for their crimes. Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant also reaffirmed their mutual commitment to reach a ceasefire agreement swiftly to ensure the release of all hostages.”
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Hamas remains holding 101 hostages, including seven Americans, following the October 7 attack.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
