Israeli-American poet who lost arm protecting friends found dead in Gaza

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, appeared in a Hamas video calling for a hostage deal in April (Picture: Hostages Families Forum/AFP via Getty Images)

The family of Israeli-American poet Hersh Goldberg-Polin have been left ‘devastated’ after he was found dead in Gaza along with five other hostages.

His recovered yesterday along with those of Carmel Gat, 40, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Alexander Lobanov, 33, Almog Sarusi, 27, and Ori Danino, 25.

The IDF claimed they had been ‘cruelly murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them’ in a tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza.

All had been kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7, with the exception of Gat, who was abducted from the Be’eri farming community.

Goldberg-Polin, 23, had hidden in a bomb shelter that day, losing part of his left arm while trying to throw back grenades the Hamas militants had hurled inside.

Their bodies were discovered on Saturday just half a mile from where another hostage, Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, was found alive last week.

Overnight autopsies found gunshot wounds to the head and other parts of the body, Israeli outlet Ynet reported.

They appeared to have been neglected and unshowered for some time, but aside from evidence of tying on one of the six, there was no signs of torture.

The hostages who were found dead on Saturday, clockwork from left to right: Almog Sarusi, Alex Lubnov, Carmel Gat, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi and Hersh Goldberg-Polin (Picture: Hostages Families Forum/AFP via Getty Images)

Goldberg-Polin’s family said: ‘With broken hearts, the Goldberg-Polin family is devastated 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.’

His parents launched a high-profile international campaign for his release, meeting with US President Joe Biden and Pope Francis, and addressing the United Nations.

Just last month, they addressed the Democratic National Convention, where the crowd chanted ‘Bring them home’.

‘This is a political convention’, his father Jon Polin said. ‘But needing our only son and all of the cherished hostages home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue.’

Biden said he was ‘devastated and outraged’ by the latest hostage deaths, saying: ‘It is as tragic as it is reprehensible.

‘Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. And we will keep working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages.’

Hersh’s parents Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg have called on Israel’s government to reach a deal for the hostages’ return (Picture: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

But it’s been 10 months since October 7, Hamas still exists, and 108 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza, about a third of them dead.

The recovery of six more dead hostages has made Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s embattled position even more precarious.

He already sparked protests when he appeared in a Hamas video speaking under duress as he urged

Just yesterday, the sister of a hostage was hospitalised after being hit by a police vehicle during a demonstration in Tel Aviv demanding a hostage deal.

A doctor who treated her at the scene was arrested.

Many of the hostages’ families, as well as much of the Israeli public, blame Netanyahu for the failure to reach a deal with Hamas.

He has insisted on using military pressure to secure their return, at the cost of more than 40,000 dead Palestinians.

This has brought him into conflict with even his top security officials, who say a deal should be reached urgently.

Hamas has offered to release the hostages in return for an end to this current war, Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Prisoner swaps have taken place, with 107 hostages returned in exchange for three times the number of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Despite positive, albeit fleeting, signs from Israel that a ceasefire deal is on the horizon, its military campaign in Gaza continues.

Netanyahu is yet to comment, but Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said: ‘The heart of an entire nation is shattered to pieces.’

Defence minister Yoav Gallant said: ‘In the name of the state of Israel, I hold their families close to my heart and ask forgiveness.’

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