Thousands attend the burial of dual US-Israeli citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, who became a symbol in the battle for the hostages, and was executed by his Hamas captors along with five others.
Goldberg-Polin survived Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 by taking refuge in a bomb shelter with other young people, most of whom died that day despite the heroic effort of his friend Aner Shapira to repel grenades thrown at them. Goldberg-Polin’s arm was blown off below the elbow. In late April, he was seen alive in a hostage video released by Hamas in which he acknowledged the upcoming holiday of Passover and told his family that he knew about what they were doing to try to bring him home.
President Joe Biden acknowledged his death in a statement. “I am devastated and outraged,” he said. Biden revealed that Goldberg-Polin and the other five hostages had been found in a tunnel below the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Praising Goldberg-Polin’s parents, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, as “relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all the hostages,” Biden said, “I admire them and grieve with them more deeply than words can express. I know all Americans tonight will have them in their prayers, just as Jill and I will. I have worked tirelessly to bring their beloved Hersh safely to them and am heartbroken by the news of his death.”
The information on this page is part of the "Yizkor" commemoration project by the Ministry of Defense / the "La'ad" website by the National Insurance Institute, in memory of the fallen. We strive for accuracy and apologize for any errors. For corrections or comments, please contact us here:https://aaciremembers.org/contact-us
