Thousands gather to say goodbye to hostage killed in Gaza

FRANCE 24 English

Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

Transcript

00:00The Israeli president hugs the father of Hirsch Goldberg-Pollen at the 23-year-old hostage's

00:06funeral.

00:08Thousands of mourners massed in front of the Jerusalem cemetery while Hirsch's family

00:12said goodbye.

00:13For 23 years I was privileged to have the most stunning honor to be Hirsch's mama.

00:22I'll take it and say thank you.

00:25I just wish it had been for longer.

00:29Hirsch's U.S.-born parents said they hoped his death might at least be a turning point

00:34in drawn-out negotiations for a ceasefire.

00:37They'd spent nearly a year advocating for the hostages, addressing the U.N. and the

00:42Democratic National Convention.

00:44Hirsch, we failed you.

00:47We all failed you.

00:50You would not have failed you.

00:53You would have pushed harder for justice.

00:55You would have worked to understand the other, to bridge differences.

00:59Abducted by Hamas on October 7th at the Nova Festival, Hirsch was one of six hostages whose

01:05bodies were retrieved from Gaza over the weekend following 11 months of captivity.

01:10Autopsies determined the hostages were shot at close range and died on Thursday or Friday,

01:16shortly before Israeli soldiers discovered them in the tunnel where they were held.

01:20As the president of the state of Israel, I want to say how sorry I am.

01:25How sorry I am that we didn't protect Hirsch on that dark day.

01:31How sorry I am that we failed to bring him home.

01:35In the last couple of weeks, Israeli forces have brought home 13 Israeli hostages, but

01:39only one alive.

01:41The deaths have sparked mass protests in Israel, with many blaming the government for dragging

01:46out ceasefire and hostage-release talks.

01:49Asked whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was doing enough to reach a deal,

01:54the US president responded, no, without elaborating.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended