Bodies of hostages are still being examined for exactly how and when they were killed, IDF says
The bodies of the six hostages are still being examined and the IDF is not yet in a position to say exactly how and when they were killed, Lt Col Nadav Shoshani, an IDF spokesman, told reporters on Sunday.
The IDF has said the hostages “were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them” in a tunnel in Rafah.
But Shoshani was not able to say if the hostages were killed by gunfire or what time they were killed. He did say there was no exchange of gunfire between IDF troops and Hamas fighters in the tunnel, so the IDF was confident they were not accidentally killed by the advancing Israeli soldiers.
'Sorry I didn't do enough,' cousin posts emotional tribute to Carmel Gat
Gil Dickmann posted an emotional tribute to his cousin Carmel Gat, whose body was recovered from Gaza yesterday.
"Sorry, Carmeli. Sorry we didn’t stop when it was still possible. Sorry we let them kill you.
I wish you saw and heard us. I wish that even though you saw with your own eyes the terrible murder of Mother Kinneret, you discovered that your father Eshel and your brother Alon and Or, your sister-in-law Yarden and your niece Gefen, survived. I wish you saw how your girlfriends fought to get you back alive.
I wish you hadn’t heard the prime minister say that the Philadelphia axis is more important than your life and the lives of the other abductees. I can only imagine how much rage that filled you.
I wish that in memory of you, in memory of the warrior of justice that you were, in memory of the life that you still had to live and that was taken from you at the hands of those who kidnapped you and at the hands of a government that decided that you could be given up,
I wish that in your memory thousands would come out to demonstrate tonight, just as you would have done.
I wish that in your memory all the abductees who can still be saved will return in the deal.
Sorry, Carmeli. Sorry I didn’t do enough.
I promise you: In your memory, we will return them all."
Hamas says Israel 'bears responsibility' for hostage deaths
Izzat Al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ political wing, has blamed Israel for the deaths of the hostages, accusing its government of evading a cease-fire agreement.
"The one who bears responsibility for the death of prisoners held by the resistance is the occupation, which insists on continuing the war of genocide and evading reaching a ceasefire agreement, and the American administration due to its bias, support and partnership in this aggression," Al-Rishq said in a statement.
Both Israel and Hamas have consistently accused each other of obstructing a cease-fire deal as mediators try and reach a breakthrough.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Israeli American whose family led calls for hostage deal, killed in Gaza
Nearly 11 months after he was taken hostage by Hamas, Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin was found dead in Gaza.
President Joe Biden said Saturday night that Goldberg-Polin was among six hostages held by Hamas whose bodies recovered in a tunnel under Rafah. The Israel Defense Forces said Hamas killed the six shortly before Israeli forces reached them.
“Hersh was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a music festival for peace in Israel on October 7,” Biden said. “He lost his arm helping friends and strangers during Hamas’ savage massacre. He had just turned 23. He planned to travel the world.”
Goldberg-Polin was an older brother to two sisters and a fan of the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team. He was born in the United States and moved to Israel with his family when he was 7, the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters said.
Goldberg-Polin’s parents have been outspoken in their efforts to bring home their son and the other hostages, launching a social media campaign and making regular media appearances. They, along with the families of other hostages, have relentlessly urged Netanyahu and the Israeli government, as well as the international community, to focus on the plight of their loved ones.
'Netanyahu abandoned the abductees' — Hostage Families Forum plans protests
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum urged the Israeli public to prepare for protests in a post on X Saturday night.
"Netanyahu abandoned the abductees! This is now a fact," it said. "Starting tomorrow the country will tremble."
The post goes on to say that further details will be sent Sunday morning.
Hostages' bodies were found during fighting in Rafah: IDF spokesman
The bodies of the six hostages were found in an underground tunnel during fighting in Rafah, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said today.
They were located less than a mile from the tunnel where Frhan Alkadi, another hostage, was rescued earlier this week, Hagari said. At the time, fighting was going on above ground between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters, he said.
"According to our initial assessment, they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them," Hagari said.
White House, members of Congress mourn hostage deaths
In Saturday night statements, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris mourned the death of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, emphasizing that their prayers are with his loved ones.
"I have worked tirelessly to bring their beloved Hersh safely to them and am heartbroken by the news of his death. It is as tragic as it is reprehensible," Biden said in his statement.
Harris strongly condemned Hamas as well, calling it "an evil terrorist organization" and emphasizing that it now has "even more American blood on its hands."
"The threat Hamas poses to the people of Israel—and American citizens in Israel—must be eliminated and Hamas cannot control Gaza," she said in the statement, which was made in her official capacity as vice president, not her presidential campaign.
Reactions from lawmakers also began rolling in, with members of Congress sharing that they were “heartbroken” and grieving with the families of the hostages.
"I am absolutely heartbroken by the deaths of several hostages held by Hamas, including US citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin," Rep. Michael McCaul, R—TX, said in a post on X. "These innocent people should all be home today with their families; instead they were murdered by terrorists."
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D—Fla., extended her condolences to Goldberg-Polin's parents. "Rachel and Jon, you ensured the world knew of his goodness. You honored his life and your love for 331 days. May his memory be for the blessing he was to so many," she said.
Six hostages, including Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, found dead in Gaza
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American taken hostage in the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks, is among six hostages whose bodies were recovered Saturday.
“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,” a family representative said.
President Joe Biden said the bodies of Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages held by Hamas were recovered in a tunnel under Rafah.
“I am devastated and outraged,” Biden said in the statement.
Israel Defense Forces confirm recovery of six hostages' bodies
The IDF confirmed in a statement that they and Shin Bet, the country's domestic security agency, recovered the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel near Rafah.
The IDF confirmed the identities of the hostages as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Master Sgt. Ori Danino. The hostages were "murdered by the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip," the IDF said.
"Following an identification procedure carried out by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the Israel Police, and the IDF Military Rabbinate, the IDF Manpower Directorate’s Hostage team, which is responsible for accompanying the families of the hostages, notified their families," the IDF statement said. "The IDF and ISA send their heartfelt condolences to the families."