Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin was declared dead by Israeli authorities on Sunday morning. The 23-year-old was kidnapped by Hamas militants during an attack on southern Israel on October 7.
Despite hopes for his safe return, his body was recovered on Saturday along with those of five other hostages in tunnels beneath Rafah.
“With broken hearts, the Goldberg-Pollin family is stunned to announce the death of their beloved son and brother, Hersh. The family thanks you all for your love and support and asks for privacy at this time.” pic.twitter.com/sof97ktOf2
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) September 1, 2024
Who was Hersh Goldberg-Polin?
Hersh Goldberg-Polin was born in Oakland, California, and moved to Israel with his family in 2008 at the age of seven.
He held dual citizenship, being an Israeli-American.
He was described as a “joyous” person with a deep passion for geography and travel, which was evident from his childhood. His bedroom was filled with atlases, globes and National Geographic magazines. Before his abduction, Mr Goldberg-Polin had planned to go on a trip around the world in December 2023, a dream which was tragically cut short due to the events at the Nova Music Festival.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin was kidnapped during a Hamas attack on the Nova music festival in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. He was one of hundreds of young festival-goers who were taken hostage during the surprise attack, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 people. Mr. Goldberg-Polin and his friends initially took refuge in a bomb shelter, where he bravely attempted to throw back grenades thrown by Hamas militants, ultimately losing his left arm below the elbow in the process.
His parents, John Pollin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, were among the most vocal advocates for the release of the hostages, including their son. They regularly met with top US officials and publicly urged the Israeli government to negotiate for the hostages’ release.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin was declared dead on 1 September after being held captive for nearly a year. His body was found in Hamas-run tunnels beneath the city of Rafah, and he was reported to have been killed shortly before Israeli troops arrived.
