Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) have announced the recovery of the bodies of six hostages who were held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The recovery occurred on Saturday in an underground tunnel located in the Rafah area.
The IDF identified the recovered hostages as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Master Sgt. Ori Danino. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the IDF, indicated that initial assessments suggest the hostages were “brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them.”
Following the confirmation of Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s death, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his devastation and outrage. The IDF confirmed that the bodies had been “returned to Israeli territory” and mentioned that all six hostages had been taken on October 7, 2023, and murdered by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The families of the victims have been notified of the tragic news.
President Biden remarked that “Hersh was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a music festival for peace in Israel on October 7.” He noted that Hersh, who had just turned 23, displayed incredible bravery during the attack, losing his arm while aiding friends and strangers amidst the chaos. Biden also shared his appreciation for Hersh’s parents, Jon and Rachel, who have shown remarkable strength during this harrowing time.
In response to the unprecedented attack on October 7—which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostage takings—the Israeli military launched a campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas. The conflict has had devastating consequences, with reports indicating over 40,530 fatalities in Gaza since the military operations began.
Currently, U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators are actively striving to negotiate a ceasefire that would facilitate the release of 97 hostages still believed to be held by Hamas, including at least 27 individuals presumed dead, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel.
