Six Israeli hostages — including American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin — were found dead Saturday night in a tunnel in Gaza, the Israeli military said.
The news set off massive protests across Israel, with demonstrators demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agree to a cease-fire to bring home the surviving hostages.
Goldberg-Polin, 23, was taken hostage at the deadly Re’im music festival in Hamas’ initial Oct. 7 attack on Israel. His left arm was blown off when Hamas attackers threw a grenade into a bunker where he was sheltering with others.
In April, Hamas released a shocking video of Goldberg-Polin in which he read from a script criticizing Netanyahu’s government. He was reportedly to be included in a July cease-fire deal, but Netanyahu rejected the offer.
Along with Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, 25; Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Almog Sarusi, 27; Alexander Lobanov, 33, and Carmel Gat, 40, were found dead Saturday night in the tunnel under the city of Rafah.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin seen in a video.
“You were abandoned on and on, daily, hour after hour, 331 days,” Sarusi’s mother, Nira, said. “You and so many beautiful and pure souls. Enough. No more.”
Protesters called for a general strike Monday to demand Netanyahu reach a cease-fire agreement and bring home the remaining hostages.
Goldberg-Polin was born in the San Francisco Bay area and also lived in Richmond, Va., before moving to Israel with his family. His parents, Rachel Goldberg and Jonathan Polin, met with President Biden in hopes of securing his release.
People react during a candlelight vigil accompanied by prayers for killed Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin in Jerusalem on September 1, 2024, after Israel announced its troops had found six dead hostages in a Gaza tunnel, including Polin.
“I am devastated and outraged,” Biden said in a statement Saturday. “It is as tragic as it is reprehensible. Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. And we will keep working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages.”