On Aug. 31, the Israeli Defense Forces, also known as the IDF, announced that they recovered the bodies of six hostages in an underground tunnel in the city of Rafah, two Israeli officials reported to CNN. The hostages were held in captivity for nearly 11 months by Hamas, dating back to the initial attack on Oct. 7
According to the Israeli Health Ministry, autopsies revealed that the hostages died 24-48 hours before the arrival of Israeli forces. As of Sept. 16, the IDF estimates that 101 people remain in captivity, seven of whom are Americans.
“I think it is a very tragic event, and political leaders should have taken more proactive measures to try to prevent this from happening and negotiate for a ceasefire in a more productive and efficient way,” said junior Lucy Verma.
Hamas militants captured Hersh Golderg-Polin during the Nova music festival on Oct. 7. Five of the other six hostages recovered were taken from the same music festival. When Hamas first entered southern Israel, Goldberg-Polin and his friends hid inside a bomb shelter, but Golderg-Polin was injured and taken at gunpoint shortly after by Hamas fighters.
Goldberg-Polin was born in Oakland, Ca., but moved to Israel with his family when he was seven years old. An elder brother of two sisters, he loved soccer, music, geography and travel. His mom described him as a “happy-go-lucky, laid-back, good-humored, respectful and curious person.”
According to CNN, Alexander Lobanov was also kidnapped from the Nova music festival while working as a bar manager. Before Hamas gunmen took him, he helped people flee the festival and ran into the Be’eri forest with five others, said CNN. The 32-year-old was from the coastal city of Ashkelon in southern Israel and was a father of two, one of whom was born during his imprisonment.
40-year-old Carmel Gat was taken from her parents’ home in the border kibbutz of Be’eri of southern Israel by Hamas militants on the morning of Oct. 7. The Hostage Families Forum described her as, “compassionate, loving and consistently helping others.” She loved traveling, meeting new people and live rock music. Returned hostages described Gat as their guardian angel, teaching them meditation and yoga to help cope with imprisonment, explained CNN. Adi Zohar, a classmate, recalled her memory of Gat to the New York Times, describing her as a friendly and lively person, always making things a party.
Almog Sarusi, 27 years old, attended the Nova music festival with his girlfriend, who Hamas shot and killed while trying to drive away during the attacks. Hamas seized Sarusi and took him to Gaza shortly after, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Sarusi was described as a “positive person who loved traveling around Israel in his white SUV with his guitar,” stated CNN, based on information from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
24-year-old Eden Yerushalmi was working as a bartender at the Nova music festival on Oct. 7. When sirens went off, she was reported to have sent a video of rocket fire to her family group chat, and texted them that she was leaving the festival. As the attacks and violence of Hamas fighters persisted, Yerushalmi called the police asking them to find her. She was also on the phone with her two sisters for four hours while she attempted to escape before Hamas militants captured her, reported CNN. Yerushalmi was known as a “vibrant young woman with many friends and hobbies,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum wrote on X. 25-year-old Jerusalem local, Ori Danino, was taken by Hamas from the Nova music festival while driving back to help others with evacuation. “Ori was known for his ambition, love for people, and was beloved by all,” the Hostages Families Forum claimed.
According to NBC News, after the announcement of the six hostages’ deaths, thousands of frustrated and mourning Israelis gathered into the streets shouting and demanding for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a cease-fire with Hamas to bring the hostages home.
Dual Israeli-US citizen Hersh-Goldberg Polin had become one of the most well-known faces of the hostage crisis, symbolizing hope as his parents tirelessly campaigned to bring their son home. His parents, Jon and Rachel, mobilized support for the hostages, met with top U.S. officials, and delivered an emotional speech at the Democratic National Convention this past August. At the convention, Jon Polin emphasized the importance and urgency of saving the prisoners who are still alive. “This is a political convention. But needing our only son — and all of the cherished hostages — home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue,” said Polin.
