Hersh Goldberg-Polin was born in California and immigrated to Israel with his family in 2008.
New Delhi:
Israeli authorities announced the death of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, kidnapped by Hamas militants during the October 7 attack in southern Israel.
Despite hopes for his safe return, his body was recovered on Saturday in the tunnels beneath Rafah, along with those of five other hostages.
“The Goldberg-Polin family is heartbroken to announce the passing of their beloved son and brother, Hersh. The family thanks everyone for their love and support and asks for privacy at this time.” image.twitter.com/sof97ktOf2
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) September 1, 2024
Who was Hersh Goldberg-Polin?
Hersh Goldberg-Polin was born in Oakland, California, and immigrated to Israel with his family in 2008 at the age of seven.
Being Israeli-American, he had dual citizenship.
He was described as a “happy-go-lucky” individual, with a deep passion for geography and travel, interests that were evident from his childhood. His bedroom was filled with atlases, globes and National Geographic magazines. Prior to his abduction, Goldberg-Polin had planned to embark on a trip around the world in December 2023, a dream that was tragically cut short by the events at the Nova music festival.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin was kidnapped during the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. He was among hundreds of young festival-goers taken hostage during the surprise attack, which left more than 1,200 people dead. Mr. Goldberg-Polin and his friends initially sought refuge in a bomb shelter, where he bravely attempted to throw back grenades thrown by Hamas militants, ultimately losing his left arm from the elbow down in the process.
His parents, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, were among the most active advocates for the hostages' release, including their son. They met regularly with senior U.S. officials and publicly urged the Israeli government to negotiate a deal for the hostages' release.
On September 1, the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin was announced after nearly a year in captivity. His body was found in Hamas-controlled tunnels beneath the city of Rafah and it was reported that both men were killed shortly before Israeli troops reached them.
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