Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a somber apology on Monday, acknowledging the nation’s failure to save six hostages whose bodies were discovered in a Gaza tunnel over the weekend. “I ask for your forgiveness for not bringing them back alive,” Netanyahu stated during a televised press conference. “We were close, but we didn’t succeed. Hamas will pay a very heavy price for this.”
Among the recovered bodies was that of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old US-Israeli citizen, whose death, along with the other hostages, sparked an outpouring of grief and rage across Israel. Goldberg-Polin, who had immigrated to Israel from California at the age of seven, was attending the Nova music festival in southern Israel on October 7, celebrating his birthday, when Hamas militants launched their devastating attack. The assault resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the capture of 253 hostages.
Footage captured during the attack showed several Hamas terrorists surrounding the roadside bomb shelter where Goldberg-Polin was hiding, throwing grenades through the doorway. The majority of those sheltering inside were killed, and Goldberg-Polin lost the lower portion of his left arm. Video evidence showed him being loaded onto a pickup truck with other hostages, his injury clearly visible. He was last seen alive in a Hamas video released in April, addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family, offering the first public confirmation of his survival.
In a poignant display of grief and hope, Goldberg-Polin’s neighborhood in Jerusalem was adorned with red and white banners featuring his smiling image, accompanied by the message, “Free Hersh.” The death of the six hostages, after nearly 11 months in captivity, triggered a wave of protests across Israel. On Sunday night, an estimated 500,000 people took to the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, demanding action from Prime Minister Netanyahu. These protests continued into Monday, culminating in a general strike to pressure the government to prioritize the return of the remaining hostages.
Adding to the nation’s somber mood, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog offered his own apology during Goldberg-Polin’s funeral, held at a Jerusalem cemetery on Monday. Addressing the grieving family directly, Herzog said, “I want to say how sorry I am. How sorry I am that we didn’t protect Hersh on that dark day.” He also expressed regret on behalf of the Israeli government, stating, “I apologize on behalf of the State of Israel, that we failed to protect you in the terrible disaster of October 7, that we failed to bring you home safely.” Herzog concluded by highlighting Goldberg-Polin’s journey, saying, “I apologize that the country you immigrated to at the age of 7, wrapped in the Israeli flag, could not keep you safe.”
The discovery of the six bodies, after months of uncertainty, has deepened the grief and anger felt by Israelis. The nation now grapples with the painful reality of their loss while continuing to demand answers and accountability for the missing hostages.
