Richmond, Va. WRIC — On the third day of the Democratic National Convention, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, spoke about their son who has been missing for over 300 days after being taken hostage by Hamas.
The crowd chanted Bring him home! as the couple addressed them. Hersh, a 23-year-old Israeli-American from Oakland, California, was last seen on October 7, 2023.
Emotionally, Goldberg shared details about the 109 hostages held by Hamas, including her son. She described how Hersh was at a music festival in southern Israel with a friend, Aner, to celebrate his birthday. As rockets fell, they sought shelter in a small bomb shelter. Terrorists threw grenades into the shelter, killing Aner and severely injuring Hersh, who lost his dominant arm in the attack.
Goldberg-Polin was last seen being loaded into a truck with other hostages. His parents, wearing signs marking the 320 days since his disappearance, spoke about the ongoing pain and struggle for families like theirs.
Polin expressed his gratitude for the support from both political parties and mentioned that President Biden and Vice President Harris have been working hard for a resolution. He thanked everyone who has offered support during this difficult time.
In closing, Goldberg told her son, “We love you. Stay strong. Survive.