Virginia's Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, ordered flags to be “flown at half-staff” in memory of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg Pollin, 23, who was one of six bodies found in a tunnel beneath Gaza.
In the press release: issued On Sunday, Governor Youngkin announced that he was ordering flags flown at half-staff “in memory and in honor of Mr. Goldberg-Polin.” The Goldberg-Polin family lived in Richmond, Virginia, from 2004 to 2008. Move To Israel, according to WRIC News.
Youngkin added that “Virginians, Americans” and people around the world are mourning the loss of their son, Hirsch, and their prayers are with the Goldberg-Polin family.
“After 330 agonizing days since the brutal Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel left more than 1,200 people dead and hundreds more taken hostage, Jonathan Pollin and Rachel Goldberg woke up to unimaginable news that no parent should ever hear,” Youngkin's statement said. “Suzanne and I are outraged and saddened by the death of Hersh Goldberg Pollin, a senseless murder at the hands of terrorists. Today, Virginians, Americans and the world join the Goldberg Pollin family and Keneseth Beth Israel Synagogue in prayer.”
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that flags in the state would be flown at half-staff in memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. https://t.co/7kbiqvJB8p
— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) September 1, 2024
Youngkin's statement came after it was revealed that the six bodies found in a Hamas tunnel underground in the Gaza Strip have been identified as Goldberg Polin, Carmel Gatto, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarsi and Ori Danino.
Rabbi Dovid Asher of Kenneth Beth Israel Synagogue in Richmond described Hirsch as “a beautiful boy taken too soon,” according to WRIC News.
“He was a beautiful little boy taken far too soon because of his faith, his traditions and his background,” Usher said in a statement.
Y Net News Reported An autopsy on the body revealed that the victim had suffered “gunshot wounds to the head and other parts of the body.”
Autopsies revealed that the bodies of all six hostages found and taken into custody in Gaza on Sunday had suffered gunshot wounds to the head and other parts of the body.
Autopsies revealed that they had been executed within 48 hours of being discovered, and that their bodies showed signs of neglect during their captivity.
No evidence of torture was found, except for one hostage who had been bound, but the condition of the bodies indicated systematic neglect, including a long period of poor hygiene, and signs of injuries sustained during the abduction that had not been treated over time.
Youngkin's statement came after President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement following the deaths of Goldberg-Polin and the other hostages. Biden said “Hamas's leaders will pay a price for these crimes.”
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), a strong supporter of Israel, also issued a statement after Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. In a statement, Fetterman said his “support for Israel is unwavering” and that Hamas is responsible for “all of this humanitarian catastrophe.”
When asked for his reaction to the news that the bodies of six hostages had been found in Gaza, Democratic vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) walked away without answering.
