Second gentleman Doug Emhoff expressed deep sorrow over the death of six Israeli hostages who were killed by Hamas earlier this week. Speaking at a national vigil for the hostages at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C., Emhoff shared his heartfelt condolences.
“It is good to be together this evening. There is comfort in community,” Emhoff stated. “But I must be direct: This is hard. I feel raw. I’m gutted.”
During his address, Emhoff specifically mentioned the case of Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage at a music festival in southern Israel on October 7. Goldberg-Polin, originally from Berkeley, California, suffered severe injuries during the attack and lost part of his left arm. A Hamas video released in April showed him alive, igniting protests in Israel.
The Israeli military announced the recovery of the bodies of six hostages, including Goldberg-Polin’s, found in a tunnel in the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip. Forensic examination indicated that they had been killed recently, prompting widespread public protests over the stalled cease-fire talks.
Goldberg-Polin’s funeral drew thousands of attendees in Israel, illustrating the strong community support and desire for justice.
Emhoff shared a personal connection to the community, stating, “In this moment, I’m here as a congregant, as a mourner, as a Jew who feels connected to all of you.” He noted that he and Vice President Harris reached out to Goldberg-Polin’s parents, Rachel and Jon, to offer their condolences and support.
Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin had recently advocated for a cease-fire deal and the return of hostages during their speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Vice President Harris emphasized the importance of Israel’s right to defend itself while also calling for an immediate cease-fire during her acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination for president. She expressed the need for Palestinian people to achieve their basic rights of dignity and security.
On Tuesday, Emhoff reiterated that “President Biden and Vice President Harris are working tirelessly to secure a hostage-and-ceasefire agreement.”
