On Saturday, August 31, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the recovery of the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in Rafah, located in southern Gaza.
They had been abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and were brutally murdered by the terrorists just days before the rescue operation, as reported by IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.
The bodies were found in a tunnel complex, about 20 meters underground, just one kilometer away from the site where Farhan al-Qadi was rescued earlier in the week.
IDF forces were operating carefully in Rafah, suspecting that more hostages could be in the area. No Hamas terrorists were found in the tunnel, though clashes occurred above ground.
The Hostages:
- Hersh Goldberg-Polin (23)
Hersh was an Israeli-American citizen and was born in California but moved to Israel with his family when he was seven.
He was kidnapped from the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im. During the attack, Hersh was severely injured when a grenade blew off his left hand.
His parents, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, had been actively advocating for his release. His death deeply saddened many, including US President Joe Biden, who had worked for his release and expressed devastation at the news of his murder.
- Eden Yerushalmi (24)
Eden was a pilates teacher, who was also taken from the Nova festival. When Hamas attacked, she initially hid in a car with the bodies of murdered friends before escaping into a nearby forest. She remained in contact with her sister Shani, who could hear the terrorists closing in. Eden’s last words to her sister were, “They caught me.”
- Ori Danino (25)
Ori, a noncommissioned officer in the Israeli Defense Forces, was also kidnapped from the Nova music festival. He turned 25 while in captivity. Ori was abducted with friends, including Omer Shem-Tov, who remains in Hamas captivity, and siblings Maya and Itai Regev, who were freed in a previous hostage release.
- Alexander Lubnov (32)
A Russian-Israeli citizen, Alex was also taken from the Nova festival. His wife, Michal, gave birth to their second child in February 2024 while he was in captivity. His story touched many, as his family waited anxiously for his release.
- Carmel Gat (40)
Carmel was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7 attack. Reports from former hostages revealed that she led yoga and meditation sessions during captivity, helping to maintain morale among the other abductees. Her leadership and strength left a lasting impression on those who survived.
- Almog Sarusi (27)
Like several others, Almog was taken from the Nova festival. His partner, Shahar Gindi, was killed at the festival during the attack. Almog’s death, alongside his friends, added to the long list of lives lost in the violent assault.
Reactions:
US President Joe Biden expressed his outrage, particularly mourning the death of Goldberg-Polin, a dual Israeli-American citizen, stating, “I have worked tirelessly to bring their beloved Hersh safely to them and am heartbroken by the news of his death.” Biden vowed to continue efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages and hold Hamas accountable.
Kamala Harris, the US Vice President, reiterated Biden’s sentiments, emphasizing that Hamas has “even more American blood on its hands.”
President Isaac Herzog of Israel stated that, “The heart of an entire nation is crushed into pieces” and asked for forgiveness for not being able to return the hostages alive.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed their deep sorrow and urged public protests against the Israeli government’s handling of the hostage situation, stating that if not for delays, the hostages might still be alive.
In addition, Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of focusing more on political survival than the hostages.
Protests erupted in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on August 31, calling for the Israeli government to take more immediate action to rescue the remaining hostages.
Demonstrators blamed Netanyahu for not securing a deal to bring the hostages home, particularly after 97 hostages remain in Gaza. The Valor Forum, representing bereaved families, stressed the need for Israel to continue military operations until Hamas is defeated.
US and Israeli leaders have continued diplomatic and military strategies to address the hostage crisis, though tensions remain high as the war approaches its 12th month.
