Jerusalem: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that they had recovered the bodies of six hostages who had been taken by Hamas during the October 7 attacks. The bodies were discovered in a tunnel in the Rafah area of southern Gaza.
The victims have been identified as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino. The IDF stated that the bodies had been brought back to Israel. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a military spokesperson, reported at a press briefing that "according to our initial estimation, they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists a short time before we reached them."
This tragic discovery follows the recent rescue of another Israeli hostage, 52-year-old Qaid Farhan Alkadi, who was found in an underground tunnel in southern Gaza.
U.S. President Joe Biden, who had been closely monitoring the situation, expressed his devastation and outrage, particularly highlighting the death of Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin. "I am devastated and outraged," Biden said in a statement from the White House. Earlier in the day, Biden had called for an end to the Gaza war and expressed cautious optimism about ongoing negotiations with Hamas for the release of hostages and a ceasefire.
The family of Hersh Goldberg-Polin also issued a statement confirming his death. "With broken hearts, the Goldberg-Polin family is devastated to announce the death of their beloved son and brother, Hersh," they said. The family thanked everyone for their support and requested privacy during this difficult time. Goldberg-Polin had gained significant attention as his parents had met with world leaders and tirelessly advocated for his release.
In response to the IDF's announcement, Hostage Forum, a prominent activist group, called for nationwide protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. "Netanyahu abandoned the hostages. It is now a fact. Starting tomorrow, the country will tremble. We call on the public to prepare. The country will grind to a halt. The abandonment is over," the group said in a statement.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid also criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of neglecting the hostages while focusing on less significant issues. "Our sons and daughters are being abandoned and dying in captivity," Lapid stated.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that since the onset of Israel's military offensive on October 7, a total of 40,691 people have been killed and 94,060 injured in Gaza. The conflict was ignited by Hamas's attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and the abduction of approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli sources.
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