By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-parents-of-gaza-hostage-hersh-goldberg-polin-speak-at-2024-democratic-national-convention Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Parents of Hamas hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin speak at 2024 Democratic National Convention Politics Aug 21, 2024 8:20 PM EDT Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, American-Israeli parents whose son Hersh was abducted by Hamas from a music festival during the attack on Oct. 7, spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday. Watch Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin’s remarks in the player above. Rachel told a hushed crowd inside United Center that Hersh’s left forearm was blown off by a grenade in the attack before Hamas loaded him onto a pick-up truck, “stolen from his life – and me and Jon – in Gaza.” “Since then, we’ve lived on another planet,” she said. “Anyone who is a parent or has had a parent can try to imagine the anguish and misery that Jon and I and all the hostage families are enduring.” Both parents each wore a piece of tape with “320” written on it, marking the number of days he has been in captivity. Jon said that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are “both working tirelessly for a hostage and cease-fire deal.” The parents called for the release of the remaining 109 hostages and a stop to the suffering inflicted onto the innocent civilians in Gaza. “There’s a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East,” Jon said of the loss of life among Israelis and Palestinians. “In the competition of pain, there are no winners.” Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. You can also follow PBS News coverage on YouTube, X, Facebook and TikTok, and see highlights on our Instagram. Find more of our DNC 2024 coverage Live fact check: Night 3 of the Democratic National Convention Looking back at Tim Walz’s record and past statements 6 takeaways from Day 2 of the DNC WATCH: Who’s going to tell Trump that he’s campaigning for a ‘Black’ job, Michelle Obama asks Live updates: Tim Walz to accept VP nomination on Day 3 of the DNC WATCH: Former President Barack Obama’s full speech at 2024 Democratic National Convention We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas is a senior editor for the PBS NewsHour's Communities Initiative. He's also the senior editor and manager of newsletters. @Josh_Barrage
Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, American-Israeli parents whose son Hersh was abducted by Hamas from a music festival during the attack on Oct. 7, spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday. Watch Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin’s remarks in the player above. Rachel told a hushed crowd inside United Center that Hersh’s left forearm was blown off by a grenade in the attack before Hamas loaded him onto a pick-up truck, “stolen from his life – and me and Jon – in Gaza.” “Since then, we’ve lived on another planet,” she said. “Anyone who is a parent or has had a parent can try to imagine the anguish and misery that Jon and I and all the hostage families are enduring.” Both parents each wore a piece of tape with “320” written on it, marking the number of days he has been in captivity. Jon said that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are “both working tirelessly for a hostage and cease-fire deal.” The parents called for the release of the remaining 109 hostages and a stop to the suffering inflicted onto the innocent civilians in Gaza. “There’s a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East,” Jon said of the loss of life among Israelis and Palestinians. “In the competition of pain, there are no winners.” Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. You can also follow PBS News coverage on YouTube, X, Facebook and TikTok, and see highlights on our Instagram. Find more of our DNC 2024 coverage Live fact check: Night 3 of the Democratic National Convention Looking back at Tim Walz’s record and past statements 6 takeaways from Day 2 of the DNC WATCH: Who’s going to tell Trump that he’s campaigning for a ‘Black’ job, Michelle Obama asks Live updates: Tim Walz to accept VP nomination on Day 3 of the DNC WATCH: Former President Barack Obama’s full speech at 2024 Democratic National Convention We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now