After the devastating news that six hostages of the terrorist group Hamas were found murdered in Rafah on Saturday, the victims’ families began to bury their loved ones. Among the most prominent of those names was Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli-American who was injured and abducted during the October 7 terrorist attack. His parents, Rachel Goldberg and John Polin spoke during the Democratic National Convention a little over a week ago. On Monday, they said goodbye to their son.

Goldberg-Polin’s funeral in Jerusalem was held Monday and thousands attended. Among those eulogizing him were his parents and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who said:

Beloved Hersh, with a torn and broken heart, I stand here today, as the President of the State of Israel, saying goodbye to you and asking for your forgiveness. I ask for forgiveness on behalf of the State of Israel. Sorry that we failed to protect you in the terrible failure of the October 7th. Sorry that we failed to bring you home safely.

Polin said:

Hersh, I’m sorry. We’re sorry. We failed. You didn’t fail. You would have pushed harder, and we will push so that your death and that of all the soldiers will not be in vain. We will bring home the remaining hostages. Our hope is not lost yet. The life we ​​had with you was a blessing, and now we will work so that your legacy will be a blessing. I love you.

Goldberg’s remarks ended emotionally:

Hersh, for all these months, I have been in such torment and worry about you for every single millisecond of every single day. … Now I no longer have to worry about you. I know you are no longer in danger. You are with beautiful Honor. He will show you around. You will hopefully meet my grandparents, who will adore you… I pray that your death will be a turning point in this horrible situation in which we are all entangled… If there was something we could have done to save you and we didn’t think of it, I beg your forgiveness. We tried so very hard, so deeply and desperately… Finally, my sweet boy, finally, finally, finally, finally, you’re free.

Goldberg-Polin’s funeral was streamed live on YouTube, where an estimated 17,000 viewers watched it unfold. He was found dead on Saturday along with Israeli hostages Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino.

After the news of the murders, hundreds of thousands of protestors in Israel took to the streets to rebuke Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not doing enough to free the hostages taken by Hamas and come to an agreement on a ceasefire.

The post ‘Finally, You’re Free’: Parents of Murdered Israeli-American Hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin Speak at His Funeral first appeared on Mediaite.

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