Kidnapping and killing of Hersh Goldberg-Polin

As part of the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, 23-year-old American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin (Hebrew: הרש גולדברג-פולין) was wounded and abducted by Hamas during the Re'im music festival massacre.

He was held hostage for almost 11 months, until his body was recovered from a tunnel in Rafah in the Gaza Strip on 31 August 2024.

[12] He had reportedly planned a two-year world travel trip that was to have started during the last week of December 2023, two and a half months after he was abducted.

[13] The video reportedly ends with Goldberg-Polin seen getting into the back of a pickup truck; the traumatic amputation of his left arm, with exposed bone, can be seen as he turns to sit down.

[16][20][21] In late December 2023 it was reported that Goldberg-Polin's parents spoke to and petitioned a slew of politicians and others in regards to their son.

They spoke to United Nations (UN) in New York and Geneva, Pope Francis, Elon Musk, President Joe Biden, US Secretary Antony Blinken, 25 US senators, seven governors and multiple different celebrities and influencers.

[13] On 24 October at the UN, Goldberg-Polin's mother, Rachel Goldberg, delivered an emotional speech imploring for the release of her son and the other hostages from Hamas: "Why is no one crying out for these people to be allowed access to the Red Cross?

"[22][23][24] Rachel also addressed the 14 November March for Israel in Washington, D.C., leading the crowd in a chant of "Bring them home now!"

[26][27] On 27 December, when Goldberg-Polin was reportedly scheduled to start his world travel trip, his father and about 50 others gathered at the Ben Gurion Airport to bring attention to his continued captivity.

Goldberg-Polin was filmed with an apparent healed amputation of his left arm, highlighting the injury he suffered during the Re'im music festival massacre.

Following the video release his parents issued their statement, expressing joy at seeing and hearing him speak, but also imploring all the leaders working for a hostage deal to help bring him home.

United States President Joe Biden, issued a statement in which he said:Earlier today, in a tunnel under the city of Rafah, Israeli forces recovered six bodies of hostages held by Hamas.

Hersh was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a music festival for peace in Israel on October 7.

[43] In October 2024, Goldberg-Polin's parents revealed that the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reached out to them to speak with them after his funeral, but that they had declined.

His parents stated that at the time they didn't know what to say to political decision-makers, certain rabbis, and other leaders who they felt had failed them in getting a hostage release deal before his death, but would come to them during shiva.

In July 2024, the club hoisted a green banner with Goldberg-Polin's picture along with the words "Let Hersh Free" outside their home stadium.