Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin ordered “flags to be flown at half-staff” in honor of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, an American-Israeli hostage who was among six bodies found dead in a tunnel under Gaza.
In a press release issued Sunday, Youngkin announced that he would “order flags to be flown at half-staff in memory and honor” of Goldberg-Polin. The Goldberg-Polin family lived in Richmond, Virginia, from 2004 to 2008 before moving to Israel, according to WRIC News.
Youngkin added that “Virginians, Americans” and people around the world join the Goldberg-Polin family in prayer as they mourn the loss of their son Hersh.
“After 330 days of agony since the brutal terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, which left more than 1,200 people dead and hundreds more held hostage, Johnathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg woke up to unimaginable news that no parent should ever receive,” Youngkin said in a statement. “Suzanne and I are angry and heartbroken over the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a senseless murder at the hands of terrorists. Today, Virginians, Americans, and the world join the Goldberg-Polin family and Keneseth Beth Israel Synagogue in our prayers.”
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announces that state flags will be flown at half-staff in memory and honor of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. https://t.co/7kbiqvJB8p
— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) September 1, 2024
Youngkin’s statement comes after it was revealed that Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Ori Danino had been identified as the six bodies found in a Hamas tunnel under Gaza.
Rabbi Dovid Asher of Keneseth Beth Israel Synagogue in Richmond described Hersh as a “beautiful boy who was taken way too soon,” according to WRIC News.
“A beautiful boy taken from her far too soon because of his faith, his tradition and his background,” Asher said in a statement.
Ynet News reported that autopsies performed on the bodies showed they had suffered “gunshot wounds to the head and other areas”:
The six hostages whose bodies were discovered and recovered in Gaza on Sunday had gunshot wounds to the head and other areas, autopsies showed.
According to the autopsy, they were executed no more than 48 hours before being found and signs of neglect in captivity were found on their bodies.
With the exception of one of the hostages, who showed signs of being tied up, no signs of torture were found. However, the condition of their bodies indicated systematic neglect, including a lack of hygiene over a long period of time. In addition, there were traces of previous injuries sustained during their abduction, which had been treated over time.
Youngkin’s statement comes after President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris issued statements in response to the deaths of Goldberg-Polin and the other hostages. Biden said that “the leaders of Hamas will pay for these crimes.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who has been a vocal supporter of Israel following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that left 1,200 people dead and more than 250 people taken hostage, also issued a statement. In his statement, Fetterman said his “support for Israel is unwavering” and that Hamas was responsible for “this entire humanitarian catastrophe.”
Asked for his “reaction” to the news of the discovery of the bodies of six hostages in Gaza, Democratic vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) left without answering.
Breitbart News
