The parents of an American taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel burst into tears last night at the Democratic National Convention as they begged their son to “survive” and called for a ceasefire agreement.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, lost his left hand and part of his arm in a grenade explosion when he was kidnapped at the Nova Festival last year, where he was celebrating his birthday, and taken hostage by terrorists.
His parents, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, in a 10-minute speech to thousands of Democratic delegates last night, recounted the 320 days of suffering they have endured from the “competition of pain” in the Middle East.
Polin-Goldberg, who became emotional while standing at the podium, told her son: “Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive.”
The couple called for the release of the dozens of people still held captive in Gaza and called for a ceasefire. to end the “excessive agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East.”
They also revealed that they have met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who are “working tirelessly” for a ceasefire and hostage deal that will “bring our precious children, mothers, fathers, spouses, grandparents and grandchildren home.”
Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the parents of 23-year-old American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, broke down in tears at the Democratic National Convention last night as they begged their son to “survive” and called for a ceasefire agreement.
Hersh (pictured) and his best friend Aner went to the Nova music festival, which was “billed as a celebration of peace, love and unity,” in southern Israel on October 7 last year to mark his 23rd birthday.
The couple, who carried signs reading 320 to draw attention to the number of days their son has been held captive, were greeted with a standing ovation and chants of “bring him home” from the thousands of Democratic delegates attending the conference in Chicago.
Goldberg-Polin addressed the crowd, noting that “right now” there are “109 precious human beings being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.”
“They are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. They come from 23 different countries,” he explained, noting that the youngest is one year old and the oldest is an 86-year-old grandfather.
‘Among the hostages are eight American citizens. One of them is our only son. His name is Hersh and he is 23 years old.’
She shared personal details about her “respectful and curious” son, highlighting his humor, his love of music and travel, as well as how he supported the Hapoel Jerusalem soccer team.
Goldberg-Polin recounted how Hersh and his best friend Aner went to the Nova music festival, which was “billed as a celebration of peace, love and unity” to mark his 23rd birthday on October 7 last year.
Hersh’s left forearm, his dominant arm, was blown off during a grenade attack before he was taken prisoner by Hamas terrorists.
Rachel Polin-Goldberg, who became emotional on the podium at the Democratic National Convention last night, told her son: “Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive.” The family is pictured together in a photo projected onto the stage at the Democratic National Convention yesterday.
She shared how Hersh, Aner and 27 others “took shelter in a five-by-eight-foot bomb shelter” as rockets exploded in the sky.
‘The terrorists began throwing grenades into the bunker. Aner stood at the door and repelled seven of those grenades before the eighth killed him. Hersh’s left forearm, his dominant arm, was torn off before he was loaded into a van and taken away from his life, along with mine and John’s, to Gaza.’
‘That was 320 days ago. ‘Since then we live on another planet,’ added the mother with tears in her eyes.
Her husband, also addressing the crowd, added: “This is a political convention, but the fact that our only son – and all the beloved hostages – are coming home is not a political issue, it is a humanitarian issue.”
The couple largely avoided politics in their 10-minute address, but Polin said families of American hostages meet regularly in Washington and are encouraged to see bipartisan support to secure the release of their loved ones.
Delegates from the “uncommitted” movement, which emerged out of discontent with Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, told reporters late Thursday that officials had denied their request to have a Palestinian speak at the convention.
The couple, pictured addressing delegates at the Democratic National Convention last night as their son’s photo was projected above them, mostly stayed away from politics in their 10-minute speech, but Jon Polin (left) said families of American hostages meet regularly in Washington and are encouraged to see bipartisan support to secure the release of their loved ones.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin broke down at the podium last night as she and husband Jon Polin delivered remarks about the war between Israel and Hamas.
The group of 36 delegates has outsized influence as they come from key states such as Michigan, which is part of the so-called “blue wall” critical to the Democrats’ chances in November.
Leaders of the movement had been negotiating for weeks with the Harris campaign and convention organizers, and on Monday afternoon were granted a panel to discuss family members lost or maimed in Israel’s offensive.
“I asked the vice president to call us and tell us that the repression of Palestinian Americans is not the concern of the Democratic Party and that a Palestinian spokesperson will speak on this stage,” said Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncompromised National Movement. “I am waiting for the call.”
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on convention organizers to make room for a Palestinian speaker.
“Just as we must honor the humanity of the hostages, we must also focus on the humanity of the 40,000 Palestinians killed under Israeli bombing,” the New York lawmaker wrote on Platform X. “To deny that history is to participate in the dehumanization of Palestinians.”
More than 100 hostages remain in Gaza, though some are believed to be dead. Relatives of six of the eight American hostages still held by Hamas were in Chicago to raise awareness about the plight of their loved ones.
Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who is being held hostage in Gaza, leave the stage after speaking on the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago
Ronen and Orna Neutra, the parents of hostage Omer Neutra, were granted a speaking slot at the Republican National Convention last month.
“Time is running out,” Ronen Neutra told reporters at the convention. “And all leaders must work together in a bipartisan manner to put pressure on both Hamas and the Israeli government and reach a long-overdue agreement.”
On Tuesday, several pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested after clashing with police during a protest that began in front of the Israeli consulate and spread to surrounding streets.
Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday as the United States presses Israel and Hamas to agree on a “bridge proposal” that could lead to a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
