In a tragic turn of events, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday night recovered the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel beneath the city of Rafah in Gaza.
Among the deceased was American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose parents had recently spoken at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. This development comes despite previous warnings from both Kamala Harris and Joe Biden against Israel's entry into the Gazan city.
According to The Post Millennial, the victims, who were abducted during the terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, included Eden Yerushalmi (24), Carmel Gat (39), Almog Sarusi (26), Alex Lubnov (32), and Ori Danino (25). The attacks were a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by Hamas, a terrorist organization that has been responsible for numerous atrocities against innocent civilians.
US President Joe Biden expressed his profound grief and outrage, stating, I am devastated and outraged. Hersh was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a music festival for peace in Israel on October 7. He lost his arm helping friends and strangers during Hamas savage massacre. He had just turned 23. He planned to travel the world.
Biden went on to commend Hersh's parents, Jon and Rachel, for their courage and resilience in the face of unimaginable loss. He said, I have gotten to know his parents, Jon and Rachel. They have been courageous, wise, and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable. They have been relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all the hostages held in unconscionable conditions. I admire them and grieve with them more deeply than words can express.
The President also made a solemn promise, vowing, 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.
Vice President Kamala Harris echoed Biden's sentiments, condemning Hamas as an "evil terrorist organization" and expressing her condolences to the victims' families. She stated, Hamas is an evil terrorist organization. With these murders, Hamas has even more American blood on its hands. I strongly condemn Hamas continued brutality, and so must the entire world. From its massacre of 1,200 people to sexual violence, taking of hostages, and these murders, Hamas depravity is evident and horrifying. The threat Hamas poses to the people of Israeland American citizens in Israelmust be eliminated and Hamas cannot control Gaza. The Palestinian people too have suffered under Hamas rule for nearly two decades.
Despite their shared condemnation of Hamas, both Biden and Harris had previously opposed the IDF's incursion into Rafah, the last remaining Hamas stronghold in Gaza. This stance was reported by Politico in March, which revealed that Biden would consider placing conditions on future military aid to Israel if it proceeded with a Rafah offensive, terming such an incursion a "red line." Harris, when asked about potential consequences for Israel's entry into Rafah during an ABC interview, stated, I am ruling out nothing.
This tragic incident underscores the dire consequences of terrorism and the urgent need for a robust response. The loss of these innocent lives serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by Hamas, and the necessity for unwavering commitment to the safety and freedom of citizens, both in Israel and abroad. The world watches and waits as the struggle for peace continues.
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