Among the six hostages held by Hamas militants was Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose remains were found by Israel’s military. This discovery sparked massive protests across Israel on Sunday against the government’s unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a release for many others still captured in Gaza.

The remains were unearthed from a tunnel in Rafah, close to the Egyptian border. The Hostages Families Forum, representing the relatives of the victims, indicated that they were “slain in the last few days, after enduring nearly 11 months of mistreatment, torture, and starvation at the hands of Hamas.”

The Israeli health ministry reported that the victims seemed to have been shot at close range just two to three days prior to the recovery of their bodies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret for failing to bring them back alive.

“We witnessed the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas killers on October 7, and we are witnessing it again within the tunnels of Rafah,” Netanyahu stated.

A member of the Hamas Political Bureau, Izzat Al-Rishq, attributed the blame for the hostages’ deaths to Israel and the U.S.: “The responsibility lies with the occupation, which continues its genocidal war while avoiding cease-fire negotiations, as well as the U.S. administration for its biased support and complicity in this violence.”

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∎ The Israeli military identified the other recovered hostages as Carmel Gat, 40, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Alexander Lobanov, 32, Almog Sarusi, 27, and Master Sgt. Ori Danino, 25.

∎ Amid the outrage over the hostage murders, a temporary ceasefire in parts of Gaza commenced to facilitate the vaccination of 640,000 children against polio. These pauses are set for at least eight hours daily over three days in central Gaza, followed by three days in southern Gaza, then three in northern Gaza, with the possibility of extending any regional pause by an additional day if required.

Israeli-American was seized at a music festival

Goldberg-Polin, 23, originally from California, was among over 200 individuals taken captive by militants in the Oct. 7 assault on Israeli border communities, which also resulted in nearly 1,200 fatalities. He was abducted by armed force from the Nova music festival. During this traumatic experience, he suffered significant injuries, including part of his arm being severed by a grenade, as shared by his friends with YSL News.

“With heavy hearts, the Goldberg-Polin family announces the passing of their cherished son and brother, Hersh. They express gratitude for the love and support, requesting privacy during this difficult time,” the family stated.

The White House announced that national security adviser Jake Sullivan would hold a virtual gathering on Sunday with the families of American hostages.

Planned strikes and protests across Israel in support of hostages

The Hostage Family Forum has called for public demonstrations throughout Israel to voice their dissatisfaction with the government’s inability to secure freedom for the captives. Thousands gathered in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Arnon Bar-David, leader of Israel’s Histadrut labor union, urged all civilian workers to take part in a nationwide strike on Monday, noting that Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s primary air travel hub, would halt operations after 8 a.m. Tel Aviv’s Mayor Ron Huldai confirmed the city’s alignment with the nationwide strike until noon, stating in a social media post that the Israeli government has “neglected” the hostages.

“But the State of Israel is us,” Huldai stated. “In solidarity with the abductees and their families, the municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa supports the strike.  We encourage all employees, both male and female, to join the families’ pursuit for justice. Take to the streets.”

Jerusalem is among the cities that chose not to participate in the strike. Israel Gantz, head of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council in the West Bank, expressed that a strike might diminish the country’s resilience. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich suggested that the government pursue a court order to prohibit the nationwide strike.

Netanyahu’s detractor: Israeli society is ‘deteriorating’

Benny Gantz, a political rival of Netanyahu, has demanded the replacement of what he described as a “completely failed” government. He praised the Israeli forces for their attempts to rescue the hostages but accused the Prime Minister of “playing a dangerous game” that costs lives. Gantz stated that Netanyahu “hesitates, fears, and stalls for time due to political motives” instead of making a solid effort to return the hostages.

“The prime minister needs to safeguard the abducted individuals and the citizens of Israel, rather than serve his coalition dominated by extremists,” Gantz declared. “The abducted perish, residents of the north are displaced, and Israeli society is crumbling.”

Biden and Harris convey their condolences and outrage

President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached out to Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, to express their condolences. Biden expressed his feelings in a statement, saying he was “devastated and outraged” by the tragedy and honored the memory of Goldberg-Polin.

Biden remarked, “He had aspirations to travel the world.” He acknowledged the strength and determination of Goldberg-Polin’s parents, saying, “I have come to know Jon and Rachel. They have shown immense courage, wisdom, and resilience despite facing the unimaginable. They have been tireless advocates not only for their son but for all the hostages enduring unspeakable suffering.”

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris referred to Hamas as an “evil terrorist organization” and stated in her address that the group now has “even more American blood on its hands.” She asserted that Hamas must be dismantled and barred from exerting control over Gaza.

“Hamas’ ongoing brutality needs to be condemned by the whole world,” her statement emphasized. “From the massacre of 1,200 individuals to acts of sexual violence, kidnapping, and murders, the horrific nature of Hamas is indisputable.”

Netanyahu expresses remorse for failed rescue

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu conveyed “deep regret” to Oxana and Grigory Lobanov, the parents of Alexander Lobanov, about the inability of Israeli forces to save their son and the other captives.

During a phone call, Netanyahu told them, “I deeply regret and beg for your forgiveness for not being able to bring Sasha back alive.” Plans were made for Netanyahu to converse with the families of all the hostages whose remains were recovered from a tunnel, though reports from Israel’s Channel 12 indicated that two families declined his call.

Militant attacks in the West Bank

On Sunday, a militant shot three Israeli police officers in the occupied West Bank before being killed by Israeli commandos, according to the military. The shooter, Muhammad al-Aswad, 31, was linked to the Palestinian Authority’s Fatah movement and had previously served in its presidential guard. The Israeli military reported an uptick in operations in the West Bank recently, attributing it to a rise in militant activity.

A lesser-known militant group, known as the Khalil al-Rahman Brigade, claimed responsibility for the shootings. Hamas endorsed the act, labeling it a “natural response” to the ongoing war in Gaza and called for more violence.

Israel escalates military actions in Gaza and West Bank

The recovery of the bodies coincides with Israel’s continued military operations in Gaza amidst intense international calls for a cease-fire. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, over 40,691 Palestinians have been killed and 94,060 injured during Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip.

In recent days, Israel has ramped up its military activities in northern West Bank cities, raising concerns that the conflict in Gaza could spread to other Palestinian regions. There is also a looming threat of wider warfare involving Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, supported by Iran.

On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 48 individuals in Gaza, while clashes occurred in central and southern areas amid preparations for a polio vaccination campaign.

Biden remains hopeful for cease-fire

On Saturday, while speaking to reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Biden expressed optimism about the potential for a truce to resolve the conflict. “I think we’re close to an agreement,” he stated. “It’s time for this war to come to an end.”

Biden added, “Discussions are ongoing, and we believe we can finalize the principles they’ve all agreed upon.”

However, Netanyahu downplayed the likelihood of a deal on Sunday, stating, “In recent days, while we have been engaged in serious negotiations with a mediator to forge an agreement, Hamas has persistently rejected all proposals. Even worse, at that very moment, they murdered six of our hostages. Anyone who kills hostages does not desire a deal.”

Many hostages still with militants

The recovery of the bodies also follows the release of another hostage taken during the Hamas attack on October 7, who was rescued in a “complex” operation in southern Gaza. Israeli military spokesperson Hagari reported that Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a member of Israel’s Arab Bedouin minority, was rescued alone from an underground tunnel through extensive intelligence work.

Hagari mentioned that the hostages found on Sunday were located about a mile from where Alkadi was rescued.

The Hostages Families Forum revealed that, over the past few months, eight hostages have successfully been rescued alive through Israel’s military efforts. In November, a deal between Israel and Hamas resulted in the release of 105 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Currently, it is believed that 101 hostages remain in Gaza, including at least 27 assumed dead. With the death of Goldberg-Polin, there are now seven American hostages still in Gaza.

Parents recently addressed the DNC

Goldberg-Polin’s parents shared their son’s story during a recent appearance at the Democratic National Convention, describing his love for music, his support for the Hapoel Jerusalem soccer team, and his sense of humor. They recounted the bravery of his best friend, with whom he attended the Nova music festival.

During the Hamas attack, Goldberg-Polin, his friend Aner Shapira, and more than two dozen other festival attendees sought shelter in a bomb shelter. Shapira, age 22,

An off-duty soldier attempted to shield others by standing at the doorway, catching and then throwing back several grenades that the assailants were hurling their way. In total, he managed to throw back six grenades before the seventh one struck him fatally.

“He stood there as a barrier for the others. This was our hero. He did it for the sake of others, not for himself,” shared Liat Netzer, the mother of a friend of Shapira, when speaking to YSL News at his funeral in Jerusalem that took place in October.

Yaakov Netzer, Liat’s husband, mentioned that during the grenade assault that killed Shapira, Goldberg-Polin was injured in the hand but was still able to walk. Other friends present at the festival saw him being taken away by Hamas along with several others, as they were lifted into the back of a pickup truck.

Definitive evidence that Goldberg-Polin survived despite his serious injuries only appeared in April when Hamas released a video showing him sitting in a chair and addressing the camera. His hair was cut short, and he occasionally gestured with his left arm, which displayed a healed stump where his hand used to be.

The video, which lasts just under three minutes, features Goldberg-Polin criticizing Netanyahu for failing to negotiate a cease-fire with Hamas and expressing to his parents how much he misses and loves them.

“I look forward to seeing you very soon when all of this tragedy comes to an end,” he stated.