Israel on Sunday confirmed the deaths of six hostages seized in the 7 October attack by Hamas.
About 250 hostages were taken during the surprise October attack on southern Israel, in which Hamas killed 1,200 people. In the war in Gaza that followed, 40,691 Palestinians have been killed, according to the latest estimate by the Palestinian health ministry.
On Sunday, Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, said the nation would continue the fight against Hamas while prioritising the rescue of the remaining hostages. “The heart of an entire nation is shattered to pieces,” said Herzog. “I embrace their families with all my heart, and apologise for failing to bring them home safely.”
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23
Originally from California, Goldberg-Polin immigrated to Israel with his family as a young child. He was taken at gunpoint by Hamas militants while at the Nova music festival.
His parents, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, had tirelessly worked to keep global attention on the Israeli hostage crisis, with efforts that included meeting with the US president, Joe Biden, and Pope Francis as well as addressing the United Nations.
In August his parents spoke at the Democratic party convention, where they were greeted by a crowd that chanted: “Bring them home.” They described Hersh as a music lover and traveller with plans to attend university now that his military service had ended.
The family confirmed his death a few hours before the IDF named the victims on Sunday. “With broken hearts, the Goldberg-Polin family is devastated to announce the death of their beloved son and brother, Hersh,” they said in a statement.
Eden Yerushalmi, 24
Born in Tel Aviv, Yerushalmi loved spending summer days at the beach and was studying to become a pilates instructor, according to the Hostage Families Forum, which has been leading advocacy efforts for the captives’ release.
She had been working as a bartender at the Nova music festival on 7 October. After Hamas’ initial rocket attack set off air raid sirens, she told her family in a video that she was leaving the party. Over the next four hours, as Hamas continued its attack, she was in contact with the police and her sisters.
“They’ve caught me,” were her last words to them.
Carmel Gat, 40
From Tel Aviv, the occupational therapist was “full of compassion and love”, and enjoyed travel, rock concerts and the band Radiohead, according to the families’ forum.
She had been staying with her parents in kibbutz Be’eri on 7 October, one of the communities hardest-hit by the attack. Hamas fighters broke into their home and kidnapped her; her mother was killed in the attack.
Hostages who were released during a ceasefire in November described Gat as their “guardian angel”, detailing how she had helped them survive captivity by teaching them meditation and yoga exercises.
Alexander Lobanov, 33
From the coastal city of Ashkelon, in southern Israel, Lobanov was married with two children, including a five-month-old baby born while he was in captivity.
On 7 October he was at the Nova festival, working as a bar manager.
Citing witnesses, the families’ forum said Lobanov had helped to evacuate people from the festival before running into the Be’eri forest with several other people. He was later captured in the forest by Hamas gunmen.
Almog Sarusi, 27
The forum described Sarusi as a “vibrant, positive person who loved travelling around Israel in his white Jeep with his guitar”. He had been at the music festival with his girlfriend of five years, who was shot and killed during the attack.
The forum said Sarusi stayed at his girlfriend’s side after she was injured, trying to save her. He was taken hostage as his girlfriend succumbed to her injuries.
Ori Danino, 25
Born in Jerusalem, Danino was the eldest of five siblings and had planned to study electrical engineering. “Ori was known for his ambition, love for people, and was beloved by all,” the forum said. “He loved nature and was very handy.”
He had been at the Nova festival on 7 October, according to the forum, and had been helping others try to escape when he was taken hostage.
With contributions from the Associated Press