Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin has tragically died, confirmed by President Joe Biden, as one of six bodies recovered from a tunnel under Rafah, where Hamas captives were discovered. The 23-year-old was among 250 hostages taken by Hamas during their brutal attack on Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, resulting in over 1,200 deaths. The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza has led to significant casualties, with over 40,000 Palestinians killed and 94,000 injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
President Biden expressed his devastation and outrage over Goldberg-Polin’s death, praising his courage and the resilience of his parents. Biden remains hopeful for a truce to end the conflict, stating that progress is being made towards an agreement. The recent discovery of the bodies follows the successful rescue of another hostage taken during the same Hamas attack. Qaid Farhan Alkadi, an Arab Bedouin minority member, was found alone in an underground tunnel after an extensive rescue operation.
On the same day, Israeli strikes killed at least 48 people in Gaza, as clashes escalated ahead of a planned polio vaccination campaign by the United Nations. The UN was set to vaccinate 640,000 children in Gaza, relying on temporary ceasefires for the distribution of vaccines. The situation remains tense, with international pressure mounting for a ceasefire in the region.
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