Public news reports, official statements from the U.S., Israeli, or Hamas officials

Parents of Hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin Make Emotional Plea at DNC in Chicago After 320 Days

Aug 22, 2024, 12:02 AM

During the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American-Israeli hostage held by Hamas, delivered an emotional speech. Hersh was abducted on October 7, 2023, from a music festival and has been held hostage for 320 days. The crowd at the convention gave the couple a standing ovation and erupted in chants of 'Bring them home.' The parents emphasized that the issue of hostages is not a political one but a humanitarian concern. They called for a ceasefire deal to release all hostages and alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza. The event marked the first sustained reference to the Gaza conflict at the convention. They noted bipartisan support for the hostages' release.