President Joe Biden released a statement Saturday night saying he had “worked tirelessly” to secure the release of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and other murdered hostages, and said he would “continue to work around the clock to reach an agreement.”
Biden has been on vacation for the past two weeks, first in Santa Barbara, California, and then in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. It is unclear how he could have “worked tirelessly” or “around the clock” during his vacation.
Here is his official statement, underlined by us.
Earlier today, in a tunnel under the city of Rafah, Israeli forces recovered the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas. We now have confirmation that one of the hostages killed by these Hamas terrorists was an American citizen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
I am devastated and outraged. Hersh was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a peace music festival in Israel on October 7. He lost his arm helping friends and strangers in the savage Hamas massacre. He had just turned 23. He was planning to travel the world. I have come to know his parents, Jon and Rachel. They have been courageous, wise, and determined, even when they have endured the unimaginable. They have been tireless and unwavering advocates for their son and all the hostages held in unconscionable conditions. I admire them and grieve with them more deeply than words can express. I know all Americans will be praying for them tonight, as will Jill and I. I worked tirelessly I look forward to the safe return of their beloved Hersh and am heartbroken by the news of his death. This is as tragic as it is reprehensible. Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. We will continue to work around the clock to reach an agreement to obtain the release of the remaining hostages.
Biden has kept a low profile since dropping out of the presidential race in late July.
Goldberg-Polin was a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen. Her body was found Saturday in a tunnel under the Gaza city of Rafah, along with five other hostages. They had been shot in the head within the previous 48 hours before Israeli soldiers could rescue them.
Joel B. Pollak is a senior editor at Breitbart News and host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday nights from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. PT). He is the author of “The Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days,” available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of “The Trumpian Virtues: The Lessons and Legacy of Donald Trump’s Presidency,” now available on Audible. He is a recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.
Breitbart News
