Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was abducted from the Nova music festival during the recent Hamas attacks on Israel, has died in captivity, as confirmed by the Israeli military. The 23-year-old Israeli-American became a symbol of the ongoing hostage crisis, which has seen over 100 individuals held in Gaza. His tragic death, announced on Sunday, intensifies the grief and alarm among hostage families and adds urgency to the international demand for a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. His parents’ relentless efforts to secure his release had garnered widespread attention, with calls for his return visible in Jerusalem and globally.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin
Goldberg-Polin was at the Nova music festival in southern Israel on October 7 when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack. During the assault, which killed over 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages, he and his friends were forced into a bomb shelter. As militants threw grenades into the bunker, Goldberg-Polin attempted to throw them out, resulting in the loss of his arm. After the gunfire ceased, he was taken by Hamas gunmen, and this was the last time his friend saw him.
Hersh Goldberg Hostage Video
In April, six months after his abduction, Goldberg-Polin was shown in a hostage video with part of his left arm missing and his hair cut short. He spoke in Hebrew, saying he had been held for almost 200 days and urged his parents to stay strong. More than four months later, his family confirmed his death through a statement released by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Israeli Military Reported That Goldberg-Polin’s Body
The Israeli military reported that Goldberg-Polin’s body, along with five other hostages, was found in Hamas-run tunnels under Rafah, and they were killed shortly before troops arrived. According to Israeli officials, Goldberg-Polin, along with Eden Yerushalmi and Carmel Gat, was scheduled for release in the first phase of a planned ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The release was delayed, and his death, along with those of the other hostages, has intensified calls for an agreement.
Heartbreak of Hostage Families
The fate of Hersh Goldberg-Polin has intertwined the plight of hostages with US policy on the Israel-Gaza conflict. His parents have been among the most vocal advocates, urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure a deal for their loved ones’ return. They have also frequently met with high-level US officials in Washington to press for the hostages.
Just days before his death was confirmed, Goldberg-Polin’s parents made a heartfelt appeal for his release at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. “This is a political convention, but our urgent need for our only son and all the hostages to come home is a humanitarian issue, not a political one,” stated Goldberg-Polin’s father, Jon Polin.
Since their son’s abduction, Goldberg-Polin’s mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, described their lives as being on “another planet.” She expressed the profound pain and suffering they, along with other hostage families, are enduring. Their speech received a standing ovation and chants of “bring him home” from the thousands of delegates, reflecting a mantra that has resonated in Israel for the families of the kidnapped. The couple also wore tape marked with the number 320, representing the days their son had been held.
Obsessed With Geography
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, born in Oakland, California, moved to Israel with his family at the age of 7. Described by his mother as a “happy-go-lucky, laid-back, good-humored, respectful, and curious person,” he had a deep passion for soccer, music, and geography. “He’s been obsessed with geography and travel since he was a little boy,” Rachel Goldberg-Polin shared during her DNC speech. “His bedroom was filled with atlases, globes, maps, and National Geographic magazines.”
Goldberg-Polin had planned a round-the-world trip in December 2023 after attending the Nova music festival, but he never returned. On October 7, he celebrated his 23rd birthday at the festival near the Gaza-Israel border with his best friend, Aner. As rockets began to fall, Hersh, Aner, and 27 other festival-goers took refuge in a small bomb shelter. Terrorists threw grenades into the shelter; Aner managed to repel seven before the eighth grenade killed him, Rachel Goldberg-Polin recounted.
According to a young woman who was in the shelter, Goldberg-Polin, who was left-handed, tried to throw the grenades out but lost his left arm from the elbow down in the process. He was later taken away by gunmen in a truck. Footage from the attack showed Goldberg-Polin being forced into the truck with his hand blown off and bone protruding from his wrist.
Goldberg-Polin’s parents first saw this video during an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper in October. Cooper, who had previously seen the footage, recognized Goldberg-Polin from the interview and later contacted the couple to share the video. They confirmed the identity of their son and requested the video be shared more widely.
The deaths of hostages have increased pressure on the Biden administration to urge Israel to find a resolution to the conflict in Gaza, which has stirred global public opinion and threatened to escalate into a regional war. It also heightens pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate a deal to prevent further loss of life and potential wider conflict. The health ministry in Gaza reports that more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. Jonathan Polin, at the DNC, highlighted the urgent need for a resolution: “A deal to bring the 109 hostages home and end the suffering in Gaza is needed now.”
Conclusion
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, kidnapped from the Nova music festival during Hamas’ attack on Israel, has died in captivity, according to the Israeli military. His tragic death highlights the intensifying grief among hostage families and escalates calls for a ceasefire. Goldberg-Polin, who was deeply passionate about geography, was forced into a bomb shelter where he lost his arm before being abducted. His death, alongside other hostages, has heightened international pressure on Israel and the Biden administration to negotiate an end to the Gaza conflict.