Hersh Goldberg-Polin: US President Joe Biden vows Hamas will pay after death of Israeli-American hostage

US President Joe Biden has vowed revenge against Hamas for its “reprehensible” crimes in response to the death of an Israeli-American hostage.

Israeli soldiers found Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s body among others who had been killed on the Gaza Strip overnight.

The 23-year-old was among the hostages seized by the militants at a music festival in southern Israel on October 7.

He lost part of an arm in the attack.

Mr Biden said he had worked long and hard to try to free Mr Goldberg-Polin and was “devastated and outraged” by his death.

“Hersh was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a music festival for peace in Israel on October 7,” he said on Sunday.

“He lost his arm helping friends and strangers during Hamas’ savage massacre. He had just turned 23.

“He planned to travel the world. I have gotten to know his parents Jon and Rachel. They have been courageous, wise and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable.

“They have been relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all the hostages held in unconscionable conditions.

“I admire them and grieve with them more deeply than words can express.“

Mr Biden said he was heartbroken for Mr Goldberg-Polin’s parents and vowed revenge.

“I know all Americans ... will have them in their prayers, just as Jill and I will,” he said.

“I have worked tirelessly to bring their beloved Hersh safely to them and am heartbroken by the news of his death. It is as tragic as it is reprehensible.

“Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes.

“And we will keep working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages.”

Jon and Rachel said they were devastated by their son’s death.

“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.

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

There was no immediate comment from the army or any more details about the other bodies.

Mr Goldberg-Polin’s parents have become the most high-profile relatives of hostages on the international stage.

They have met with Mr Biden as well as Pope Francis and others and addressed the United Nations.

They also addressed a hushed hall at the Democratic National Convention on August 21, where the crowd chanted: “Bring them home.”

A Hamas-issued video in April showing Mr Goldberg-Polin clearly speaking under duress sparked new protests in Israel urging the government to do more to secure his and others’ freedom.

His death is certain to put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a deal to bring home remaining hostages.

The Israeli leader has said military pressure is needed to win their release as ceasefire efforts falter.

Before the announcement, Israel said it believed 108 hostages were still held in Gaza and about one-third of them were dead.

Meanwhile, a campaign to inoculate children in Gaza against polio and prevent the spread of the virus has begun as Palestinians in the Hamas-governed enclave and the occupied West Bank reel from Israel’s military offensives.

A small number of children in Gaza received vaccine doses a day before the large-scale rollout and limited pauses in the fighting agreed to by Israel and the UN World Health Organisation.

Israel said the vaccination program would continue until September 9 for eight hours a day. It will allow health workers to administer vaccines with the aim of reaching some 640,000 Palestinian children.

The vaccination campaign comes after the first polio case in 25 years in Gaza was discovered in August.

Doctors concluded a 10-month-old had been partially paralysed by a mutated strain of the virus after not being vaccinated due to fighting.

Most people who contract the disease do not experience symptoms and those who do usually recover in a week or so. There is no cure.