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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Protest at Israeli prime minister’s residence marks anniversary of six hostages’ deaths

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Activists from Women Demand Life demonstrated outside the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem to mark two years since Israel recovered the bodies of six hostages killed in Gaza.
  • The protesters accused the government of failing to take responsibility and said agreements could have brought the hostages home alive.
  • The demonstration followed an address by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, at the United Nations.

A large sign outside the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem carried the protesters’ message: “We won’t forget; they could have returned alive.” Activists from Women Demand Life gathered on Monday to mark two years since Israel recovered the bodies of six hostages killed in Gaza.

The group referred to the victims as “The Beautiful Six”: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov and Ori Danino. They had been kidnapped during the October 7 massacre and were killed by Hamas in August 2024 after about 10 months in captivity.

We won’t forget; they could have returned alive.

— Women Demand Life protestersThe slogan appeared on a large sign at the Jerusalem demonstration.

The protesters said the government had not been held accountable for the deaths. They accused the prime minister and his aides of covering up and lying since October 7, and said the government rejected deals that might have brought the hostages home alive.

The prime minister and his aides have been busy covering up and lying since October 7. While the kidnapped men and women were fighting for their lives, the prime minister rejected deals that could have brought them home.

— Women Demand Life activistsThe activists accused the government of failing to take responsibility for the hostages’ deaths.

“The prime minister and his aides have been busy covering up and lying since October 7,” the activists said. “While the kidnapped men and women were fighting for their lives, the prime minister rejected deals that could have brought them home.”

The activists also demanded an inquiry into the October 7 attack, arguing that a country that has not investigated the disaster or accepted responsibility cannot ensure that it will prevent another one. Women Demand Life held a similar protest in Tel Aviv on August 9.

Hersh will always be my only son.

— Rachel Goldberg-PolinShe spoke about her son Hersh at a United Nations event honoring victims of terrorism.

The Jerusalem demonstration came after Rachel Goldberg-Polin spoke at the United Nations on August 21 as a representative of victims of terrorism in the Middle East. In a recorded address, she spoke about her son, who lost an arm during his kidnapping, saying, “Hersh will always be my only son,” and “Hersh will always be 23 years old.”

Hersh will always be 23 years old.

— Rachel Goldberg-PolinThe remark formed part of her recorded testimony about her son.
About this summary

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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