Six individuals held captive by Gaza sadly meet their demise.
The captives, ranging in age from 23 to 40, have been identified as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino. Military spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed on Sunday that their lifeless bodies were discovered during the conflict in Rafah. Goldberg-Polin is a holder of both Israeli and American citizenship, while Lobanov holds Russian-Israeli dual citizenship.
Initially, the army was unaware of the exact whereabouts of these two women and four men. "They were mercilessly slain by Hamas terrorists just moments before we could reach them," Hagari said after their retrieval. The bodies were then transported to Israel for further identification.
Five of them were taken captive during Hamas' large-scale attack on the Nova music festival in southern Israel on October 7. One of the young women found deceased was abducted from Kibbutz Beeri. As per Israeli Defense Minister Joav Gallant, all six were alive when they were taken prisoner close to eleven months ago. "They had been held captive by Hamas and callously executed," Gallant clarified.
The Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that the news of the demise of six more hostages was nearly unbearable. Germany continues to pressurize for the release of these captives.
German Ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, had previously conveyed his sympathies to the families. "We are all struck by the awful news that six more innocent hostages have been discovered, murdered by Hamas. One of them is Carmel Gat," he expressed on the online platform X. Since October 7, embassy staff in Tel Aviv have been relentlessly campaigning for their release.
The 40-year-old yoga instructor resided in Tel Aviv but was visiting her parents in Kibbutz Beeri when Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by the US and EU, instigated its targeted large-scale attack on various locations in southern Israel. According to Israeli reports, the extremists killed 1,205 individuals and took 251 hostages to the Gaza Strip during this brutal assault.
Approximately 100 hostages are still being held captive by Hamas and other radical Palestinian groups, with several reportedly deceased. Gat's sister-in-law, the German-Israeli Yarden Roman-Gat, was released in November as part of the sole prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas to date.
The Association of Families of Hostages and the Missing expressed its sadness and once again urged the Israeli government to agree to a truce. "Had there been no delays, sabotage, or excuses, the individuals we became aware of this morning would likely still be alive," the organization explained.
Even before the Israeli army confirmed the deaths, US President Joe Biden stated that US dual citizen Goldberg-Polin was among them. Goldberg-Polin's parents recently reminded the Democratic Party convention in Chicago of their son's ordeal. "Among the hostages are eight American citizens, and one of them is our only son," his mother Rachel Goldberg said in her speech.
Just last Thursday, the couple joined other relatives at the border with the Gaza Strip. The relatives attempted to reach the hostages using loudspeaker announcements. "Hersh, it's Mom," Goldberg-Polin's mother addressed her son. "I pray to God that he brings you back."
In response to Hamas' attack, Israel has been engaging in extensive military operations in the Gaza Strip since October. As per Hamas, which cannot be independently corroborated, over 40,600 individuals have been killed since then. International mediators, including the US, Egypt, and Qatar, have been attempting to negotiate a ceasefire and the release of hostages for months. Biden expressed optimism on Sunday that an agreement could be reached.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu views the deaths of hostages as evidence of Hamas' disregard for a deal. "Those who execute hostages have no interest in a settlement," he stated. Addressing the Hamas leadership, he declared: "We will pursue you, we will capture you, and we will make you pay."
Despite the international efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and the release of hostages, the conflict in Rafah continues to claim lives. The location of the grisly discovery of these six individuals further highlights the importance of resolving this situation.
