The parents of American Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin made an emotional plea Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention for their son’s return.
Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg described Hersh seeking safety in a tiny bomb shelter when the Oct. 7 attack began at the Tribe of Nova music festival, before his left forearm was blown off by a grenade and he was taken to Gaza.
“Since then, we live on another planet,” said Goldberg. “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.”
The two wore pieces of tape with the number 320 written on them, marking the number of days their son has been held hostage. As they spoke, the convention hall was largely silent, and many people could be seen shedding tears.
“This is a political convention. But needing our only son and all of the cherished hostages home is not a political issue,” Polin said as the audience applauded. “It is a humanitarian issue.”
He praised efforts to complete a deal to bring the hostages home and end suffering in Gaza.
“In an inflamed Middle East, we know the one thing that can most immediately release pressure and bring calm to the entire region: a deal that brings this diverse group of 109 hostages home and ends the suffering of the innocent civilians in Gaza,” Polin said.
There is “surplus of agony” on all sides of the conflict, and “in a competition of pain, there are no winners,” Polin said.
Goldberg and Polin held the stage for more than eight minutes, a lengthy speech compared to those of dozens of politicians throughout the convention. The couple has been the only hostage family to address the convention.
Families of Palestinian victims of the Israel-Hamas war have not yet been given speaking slots, though the war has been mentioned in passing by other speakers. It is unclear if the convention will hear from additional families connected to the war.
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters have converged in Chicago to protest Israel and the war. On Tuesday, more than four dozen protesters were arrested outside of the Israeli consulate there, the Chicago Police Department said.
The arrests took place after the group led several hundred demonstrators off on an improvised path, despite the police trying to block them.
The war in Gaza has opening fissures inside the Democratic Party, including between voters angered by U.S. aid to Israel and voters concerned that criticism of Israel has veered into antisemitism.
Protesters have consistently showed up at Harris’ and President Joe Biden’s events over the last year. There has been a small number of protesters inside the Democratic convention, though there has not been any apparent interruption of the proceedings.
The Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7 killed 1,200 people and injured thousands of others, according to Israeli officials. More than 100 hostages are believed to still be held by Hamas, including Americans. About 250 hostages were initially taken into Gaza on Oct. 7.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 people, according to local officials. The death toll has sparked protests against U.S. aid to Israel.
Goldberg concluded her remarks at the Democratic convention with a message to her son.
“Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive,” she said.
