American Citizen Taken Hostage By Hamas Found Dead In Gaza

On Saturday, the Israeli Defense Forces recovered the bodies of six hostages who were abducted by Hamas militants during the October 7 attacks. One of the deceased hostages has been identified as Hersh Goldberg-Polin,  an American citizen whose parents addressed the Democratic National Convention last month.

The additional victims have been identified as Eden Yerushalmi (24), Carmel Gat (39) Almog Sarusi (26) Alex Lubnov (32), and Ori Danino (25). IDF forces recovered the bodies from a tunnel under the city of Raffah, one of the last remaining militant strongholds in the Gaza Strip.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino.

This ongoing grief and outrage was brutally sown on 10/7.

Hamas owns this entire humanitarian catastrophe and my support for Israel is unbreakable. pic.twitter.com/OKPvZVNd43

— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) September 1, 2024

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The Biden-Harris Administration has previously warned Israel not to conduct operations in the city. In a statement earlier this year, President Biden warned that a ground invasion of Raffah would constitute a “red line” and would result in weapons and other aid to Israel being withheld.

“I am devastated and outraged. Hersh was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a music festival for peace in Israel on October 7. He lost his arm helping friends and strangers during Hamas’ savage massacre. He had just turned 23. He planned to travel the world,” President Biden said in a statement on Saturday night.

“I have gotten to know his parents, Jon and Rachel. They have been courageous, wise, and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable. They have been relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all the hostages held in unconscionable conditions. I admire them and grieve with them more deeply than words can express.”

It is believed that the hostages were murdered as Israeli forces closed in on their location for a rescue mission, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced.

Goldberg-Polin, 23, was abducted from a music festival in southern Israel during the October 7 attacks. Dozens of festival goers were killed outright while scores more were abducted into Hamas territory.

“He who murders abductees – does not want a deal. We are in a difficult day. The heart of the entire nation was torn,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. “Along with all the citizens of Israel, I was shocked to the core by the terrible cold-blooded murder of six of our abductees.”

Israel currently believes that fewer 100 hostages are still being held in Hamas territory.

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