WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Washington is grappling with the shocking murders of six hostages by Hamas over the weekend, among them 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin. The tragedy has ignited a new wave of Republican criticism against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who are both striving to secure a ceasefire deal amid the escalating conflict.
Goldberg-Polin’s family and friends laid him to rest on Monday, following confirmation from the Israeli military that Hamas had killed him and five other hostages shortly before a rescue operation. The young man’s mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, expressed her deep sorrow, stating, “I will love you, and I will miss you every single day for the rest of my life.”
The Goldberg-Polin family has been a prominent voice in the international call for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Despite the heartbreaking loss, they remain hopeful that Hersh’s death could serve as a pivotal moment in ongoing negotiations. “We’re not giving up,” President Joe Biden assured, revealing that he had personally spoken with Goldberg-Polin’s parents and pledged to continue pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a resolution.
However, the administration’s handling of the situation has come under fire from Republicans. Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton criticized the president’s approach, claiming that the pressure on Israel contributed to the tragic outcome. “If we had simply backed Israel to the hilt from October 7th, this war would probably be over,” Cotton argued.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained resolute, insisting that the conflict will only conclude when Hamas is no longer in control of Gaza. “We throw them out,” Netanyahu stated firmly.
Vice President Kamala Harris also reached out to the Goldberg-Polin family and joined President Biden in the Situation Room to engage with ceasefire deal negotiators. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump laid the blame for the hostage deaths on both Biden and Harris, intensifying the political debate surrounding the administration’s response to the ongoing crisis.
As Washington mourns the loss of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and the other hostages, the pressure mounts on U.S. leadership to navigate the complex and dangerous landscape of Middle Eastern diplomacy.