Gal Gadot Mourns 6 Israeli Hostages Killed by Hamas: ‘The Heart Is Broken Into Pieces Today’

Israelis woke to the news Sunday that the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas — Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Eden Yerushalmi — had been found in Gaza after they’d been killed by Hamas. In a short, emotional post shared in an Instagram Story, actress Gal Gadot, herself a former soldier in the Israeli military, wrote, “the heart is broken into pieces today.”

“They survived almost 11 months in captivity and then were murdered by Hamas,” Gadot wrote. “People who became an inseparable part of our hearts, families who waited so long for a different end, the heart is broken into pieces today. 101 more hostages still there.”

In the hours that followed the announcement, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, “According to our initial estimation, they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists a short time before we reached them.”

Israeli health ministry spokesperson Shira Solomon told Agence France-Presse, “The six hostages were murdered by Hamas terrorists with several close-range gunshots.”

Officials from Hamas have blamed Israel for the deaths and said that three of the hostages — Goldberg-Polin, Gat and Yerushalmi — were expected to be released as part of the failed July 2 ceasefire agreement.

The family of Goldberg-Polin have been at the forefront of the move to bring the hostages taken on Oct. 7 home. Video of Goldberg-Polin from his kidnapping showed that the 23-year-old lost part of his arm; his family had appealed to both the Israeli and the American governments to bring the dual-national home.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences.

Update your settings here to see it.

Goldberg-Polin’s family also spoke at the Democratic National Convention this month. Jon Goldberg said in part of his son, “This is a political convention, but needing our only son and all of the cherished hostages home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue. The families of the hostages meet every few weeks in Washington. We’re heartened that both Democratic and Republican leaders demonstrate their bipartisan support for our hostages being released.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a taped message Sunday in response to the news. He said, “Three months ago, on May 27, Israel agreed to a hostage release deal with the full backing of the United States. Hamas refused. Even after the United States updated the outline of the deal on August 16 — we agreed, and Hamas again refused.”

The Hostages Families Forum, an organization staffed by volunteers that represent the families of the hostages, issued its own response. The organization said that Netanyahu should “stop blaming everyone.” The Forum added, “Take responsibility for the thwarting (of a deal). Take responsibility for the neglect. Take responsibility for the hostages who were murdered in captivity.”

Bring Them Home Now, a group also made up of family members of those taken hostage, issued its own statement in response to the news. The group called for protests throughout Israel and wrote on X, “TODAY, The Families will Bring the Nation to a Halt As Foot-Dragging Continues, Hostages Are Dying After 11 months of neglect of 107 hostages, the Hostages Families Forum call on the public to join a massive demonstration, demanding a complete halt of the country and the immediate implementation of a deal to release the hostages.”

“TODAY, the entire nation will stand alongside the hostages’ families to protest the cabinet’s ongoing neglect of the hostages. They will also call upon leaders of the world to exert all possible pressure on Hamas to sign the deal.”

Many in Israel and around the world criticized headlines underplaying Hamas’ active cruelty in killing the hostages. Activist Eve Barlow wrote on X in response to a CNN headline, “Murdered. Kidnapped. Kept hostage. Tortured. Murdered. By Hamas. A terrorist organization. Do your f–king job.”

Related Posts

Gal Gadot gives birth, welcomes baby No. 4 with husband Jaron Varsano

Gal Gadot has some wonderful news. The "Wonder Woman" star gave birth to her fourth child — a baby girl named Ori — with husband Jaron Varsano, she…

‘Wonder Woman’ star Gal Gadot gives birth to fourth girl

Israeli movie star Gal Gadot gave birth to a baby girl, announcing the newborn’s arrival on social media on Wednesday and revealing that her name will be…

“She’d just snap her finger and vaporize Wonder Woman”: Elizabeth Olsen vs Gal Gadot’s Superhero Debate is Insane, Can Wonder Woman Survive Chaos Magic?

Hypothetical competitions between two superheroes are the Internet’s favorite pastime, and this week, it is Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. Two of the…

Rachel Zegler Reveals the Origin of Snow White’s Name Is Changed in New Live-Action Disney Version

Rachel Zegler's Snow White moniker has a different origin story. In an interview with Variety, the actress, 23, said her princess character's name in Disney's live-action reimagining of Snow…

‘I can’t watch children die’: Snow White star Rachel Zegler on speaking up for Palestine

achel Zegler, who stars opposite Gal Gadot in Disney’s upcoming remake of Snow White, has been vocal in her support for Palestine for a year now and that…

These Two Gal Gadot Movies Just Lassoed a New Streaming Home

DC movies may be under the new management of James Gunn and Peter Safran now, but there's still a large library of DCEU films that fans will…