In a somber and emotional eulogy on Monday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog apologized “on behalf of the state of Israel” during the funeral of Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was killed by Hamas terrorists over the weekend. Herzog’s apology came as the nation grapples with the deaths of six hostages, whose murders occurred amid an Israeli military rescue mission in Gaza.
“Beloved Hersh, with a torn and broken heart, I stand here today as the President of the State of Israel, bidding you farewell and asking for your forgiveness,” Herzog said at the funeral in Jerusalem. His words reflected the profound grief and anguish felt across Israel as Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old native of Berkeley, California, was laid to rest.
Goldberg-Polin, who held dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship, was one of the most well-known hostages captured during Hamas’ brutal October 7 attack. He had been seized at a music festival in southern Israel and was held captive for nearly eleven months. His parents had led a global campaign advocating for his release, which included meetings with President Joe Biden and Pope Francis.
Hamas terrorists murdered Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages—Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Master Sergeant Ori Danino—while Israeli forces were closing in on their location in the tunnels under Rafah. The Israeli military retrieved their bodies, marking a tragic end to a rescue mission that highlighted the risks faced by hostages still in captivity.
Herzog’s apology extended to Goldberg-Polin’s grieving family and underscored the Israeli state’s deep sense of failure. “I apologize on behalf of the State of Israel, that we failed to protect you…that we failed to bring you home safely,” Herzog said. He also called upon Israeli decision-makers to “do everything possible” to rescue the remaining hostages held by Hamas, emphasizing that this was “a supreme moral, Jewish, and human duty.”
The urgency of Herzog’s message resonated as Israel continues its military operations against Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis since October 7. The Israeli president also vowed that the country would not rest until justice was served, declaring, “We do not forget for a moment our obligation to hold accountable the despicable murderers who butchered you.”
Thousands attended Goldberg-Polin’s funeral, a reflection of the collective grief and solidarity felt by the Israeli public. The loss of Goldberg-Polin and the other hostages has amplified calls for an immediate ceasefire deal that would secure the release of the remaining 101 hostages, including seven Americans.
In response to the killings, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin conveyed his “deepest condolences” to the families of the slain hostages in a conversation with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. Austin also reaffirmed the mutual commitment between the U.S. and Israel to holding Hamas accountable and securing a swift resolution to the ongoing hostage crisis.
Credit: FOX News
