IDF recovers bodies of 6 hostages from Gaza tunnel, including a US citizen whose parents spoke at the DNC

Rachel Goldberg and Jonathan Polin, the parents of the late US-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, have been lobbying to bring the hostages home.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the bodies of six hostages had been recovered from a tunnel in southern Gaza.

In a statement posted to X, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the IDF and Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, found and recovered the bodies of Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Master Sergeant Ori Danino near Rafah.

The IDF said it sent “heartfelt condolences to the families” and that Israeli security forces were “operating with all means to bring home all the hostages as fast as possible.”

One of the hostages, Goldberg-Polin, was an Israeli-American whose parents gave an emotional plea for the return of the hostages at the Democratic National Convention in August, where the crowd chanted: “Bring them home.”

In a statement, President Joe Biden said he was “devastated and outraged” by the news of Goldberg-Polin’s death.

“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,” he said.

Vice President Kamala added: “Doug and my prayers are with Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Hersh’s parents, and with everyone who knew and loved Hersh.”

“President Biden and I will never waver in our commitment to free the Americans and all those held hostage in Gaza,” she said.

Around 1,200 people were killed and about 250 people were taken hostage in Gaza following Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel.

The operation to retrieve the six hostages’ bodies comes amid ongoing efforts aimed at securing a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.