One American was among six hostages executed by Hamas in Gaza, the Israeli military confirmed as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. As reported by The Christian Post, the bodies of two women and four men, including 23-year-old American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were found in a tunnel under the Gaza city of Rafah.
President Joe Biden confirmed Goldberg-Polin’s death in a statement, saying he was “devastated and outraged.”
“Hersh was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a music festival for peace in Israel on October 7. He lost his arm helping friends and strangers during Hamas’ savage massacre,” Biden stated, referring to Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that left over 1,200 people dead.
“He had just turned 23. He planned to travel the world. I have gotten to know his parents, Jon and Rachel. They have been courageous, wise, and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable. They have been relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all the hostages held in unconscionable conditions. I admire them and grieve with them more deeply than words can express.”
Israeli officials who spoke with The Wall Street Journal noted that the hostages were shot at close range about 48 to 72 hours prior to their discovery.
Goldberg-Polin’s family had been outspoken in favor of a ceasefire and that he and other hostages would return home safely 11 months after the war began.
Public outcry also ensued after the public health ministry reported the brutal manner of their deaths, citing preliminary forensic results. Tens of thousands gathered for a spontaneous protest in central Tel Aviv, while major Israeli institutions and some coalition members urged the government to secure the release of the remaining 97 hostages through negotiations, The Jerusalem Post reported.
In response to the public grief, Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the nation, blaming Hamas for delaying the negotiations.
“Whoever kills hostages doesn’t want a deal,” Netanyahu stated in a video message.
On the other hand, Hamas argued that the deaths to Israeli and U.S. airstrikes have halted negotiations of a potential ceasefire.
In a statement by Biden, he contended that “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,” he said.
Former President Donald Trump criticized Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their leadership and mishandling of the situation.
“We grieve the senseless death of the Israeli Hostages, horrifically including a wonderful American Citizen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, murdered by Hamas due to a complete lack of American Strength and Leadership,” Trump stated on the social media platform X. “Make no mistake — This happened because Comrade Kamala Harris and Crooked Joe Biden are poor Leaders.”
We grieve the senseless death of the Israeli Hostages, horrifically including a wonderful American Citizen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, murdered by Hamas due to a complete lack of American Strength and Leadership. Make no mistake — This happened because Comrade Kamala Harris and…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2024Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman also denounced the administration’s handling of the hostage crisis, noting that the American hostage’s parents “spoke at the DNC less than two weeks ago, while hostage negotiations were underway.”
“Consider that the U.S. strategy over the last 330 days has been to pressure Israel to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, including through the withholding of weapons from @Israel and by periodically leaking our failure to support our ally to the media in the midst of hostage negotiations,” he wrote on X.
Consider that Hamas chose to execute an American hostage with a bullet to the back of his head during the last two or three days (along with five other hostages) whose parents just spoke at the DNC less than two weeks ago, while hostage negotiations were underway.
Consider that…
— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) September 1, 2024″Consider what pressure, if any, the U.S. has brought to bear on Hamas and our friends in the region who harbor Hamas’ leadership?” Ackman asked. “Why? Why has our leadership adopted this failed strategy?”
Photo Credit: ©Spencer Platt/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. » …
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