Israel-Hamas war: Family’s heartache as Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin killed

The heartbroken family of Hersh Goldberg-Polin has confirmed his death in the Gaza Strip. Warning: Graphic

The heartbroken family of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin says he has been killed in the Gaza Strip.

The family issued a statement hours after the Israeli army said it had located bodies in Gaza.

“With broken hearts, the Goldberg-Polin family is devastated to announce the death of their beloved son and brother, Hersh,” it said.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin has been tragically killed. Picture: Facebook

Jon Polin comforts his wife Rachel Goldberg as she speaks about their son Hersh Goldberg- Polin, at the Democratic National Convention. Picture: AFP

“The family thanks you all for your love and support and asks for privacy at this time.”

Mr Goldberg-Polin’s parents addressed the Democratic National Convention last month.

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ISRAEL TARGETS WEST BANK

Israel pressed on with a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank for a fourth day, as fierce fighting raged in the nearly 11-month Gaza war.

As clashes and explosions persisted in the northern city of Jenin, the Israeli military said two Palestinians were killed while preparing to carry out bombings overnight in the south of the West Bank on Saturday.

Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose October 7 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war, hailed a “heroic operation” at what it called a “sensitive time” during the Israeli operations in the north.

Hamas ally Islamic Jihad, which has a strong presence in the northern West Bank, similarly said it “congratulates” the perpetrators of what it called a “co-ordinated attack”.

The Israeli army described a vehicle explosion at a petrol station in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc as “an attempted car bombing by a terrorist” who was later killed.

A stray dog walks in front of an Israeli armoured jeep during an army raid in Jenin on August 31. Picture: AFP

Israeli armoured vehicles including a bulldozer drive in a street during an army raid in Jenin in the occupied-West Bank on August 31. Picture: AFP

Israeli armoured vehicles drive in a street during an army raid in Jenin in the occupied-West Bank on August 31. Picture: AFP

Smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli army raid in Jenin in the occupied-West Bank on August 31. Picture: AFP

“I think it’s the worst day since the start of the raid... We hear from time to time clashes and sometimes there is big bombing,” said the hospital’s director, Wisam Bakr.

Water and electricity were cut off from the hospital during the raid, forcing it to rely on a generator and water tank, he told AFP.

HAMAS COMMANDER KILLED

Israeli soldiers have killed a Hamas commander and two associates on the third day of its largest assault on the occupied West Bank in many months.

Wassem Hazem, who headed the Hamas cell in the stronghold city of Jenin, was shot during a pursuit, when two other Hamas members were killed by a drone strike as they attempted to flee, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The IDF found weapons, explosives and large sums of cash in their vehicle.

Hamas has since confirmed the three deaths.

Two Hamas members were killed as the fled an Israeli assault in Jenin. Picture: AFP

Israeli soldiers operating in Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Picture: AFP

The West Bank operation started Wednesday with a series of co-ordinated raids, in which armoured personnel carriers charged into Jenin, Tulkarm and the Jordan Valley, supported by helicopters and drones, while armoured bulldozers tore up key local roads.

Israel has described its raids on towns and refugee camps across the northern West Bank as “counter-terrorism” operations, intended to prevent further attacks.

“So far, the forces have eliminated 20 terrorists in exchanges of fire and airstrikes, and apprehended 17 suspects linked to terrorist activities,” the Israeli military said.

Israeli troops have now pulled back from a number of towns in the area, but fighting is continuing to rage around Jenin, with continuing reports of gunfire and explosions.

However, Palestinians living in the area said its fuelling an escalation of the war in Gaza, where a number of aid agencies have been hit by drone strikes this week.

A Palestinian boy in Zababdeh, in the West Bank, following an Israeli raid. Picture: AFP

UN SUSPENDS AID OPERATIONS

The UN’s World Food Programme suspended aid operations on Wednesday after one of its vehicles was hit by an Israeli strike, while US-based aid group Anera said another Israeli strike killed four Palestinians accompanying its convoy to the Gaza Strip on Thursday.

Israeli artillery pounded western areas of Gaza City on Friday morning, while an Israeli strike killed another three people near the southern city of Khan Yunis.

The IDF also shelled he Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza on Friday, killing two people.

The World Health Organisation said Israel had agreed to at least three days of “humanitarian pauses” in parts of Gaza, starting Sunday, to facilitate a vaccination drive.

It comes after the territory recorded its first case of polio in a quarter of a century.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the measures were “not a ceasefire”.

Israeli is three days into a military operation in the West Bank. Picture: AFP

HARRIS VOWS TO SUPPLY ISRAEL WITH WEAPONS

US Vice President Kamala Harris said this week she would not change Washington’s policy of supplying weapons to Israel, but she stressed it was time to “end this war”.

Britain said it was “deeply” concerned by the raids, urging Israel to “exercise restraint”, while

France said the Israeli operations “worsen a climate of unprecedented instability and violence”.

The United Nations said on Wednesday that at least 637 Palestinians had been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers since the Gaza war began.

Nineteen Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during army operations over the same period, according to Israeli official figures.

- With Wires

Originally published as Israel-Hamas war: Family’s heartache as Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin killed