Hamas’s Devastating Murder of Hersh Goldberg-Polin
AtlanticSep 16
Israel Says Bodies of Six Hostages Found in Gaza Tunnel
Above: Family and friends mourn during a funeral for slain hostage Almog Sarusi on Sept. 1, 2024, in Ra'anana, Israel. Image copyright: Amir Levy/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
The Israel Defense Forces announced Sunday that its troops had recovered the bodies of six captives kidnapped alive by Hamas last October — including a dual US national — from a tunnel in southern Gaza.
The army identified the hostages as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Carmel Gat. Gat was abducted from Kibbutz Be'eri, while the remaining were abducted from the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The US and Israel are responsible for these deaths. The hostages died due to their refusal to end the 11-month war of genocide in the besieged enclave. If the US was so concerned about the hostages' safety, it should have pressured Tel Aviv to end its aggression. The hostages would still be alive if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had signed a cease-fire deal rather than abandon its people to avoid conflict with his far-right allies in government.
Pro-establishment narrative
While Netanyahu and US Pres. Joe Biden are committed to freeing the remaining Israelis in Hamas' captivity, it's clear that the terrorists don't want real negotiations or a cease-fire. These deaths indicate that Hamas can't be talked into releasing its best remaining bargaining chips or pressured into ending its atrocities. Israel shouldn't rest until those responsible for the death of these hostages are brought to justice and pay for their crimes.