Thousands of mourners lined the streets to salute slain Israeli American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s funeral procession ahead of the services set to take place Monday near his family’s home in Jerusalem.
Goldberg-Polin’s funeral service was scheduled for 4 p.m. local time Monday at the cemetery in Jerusalem’s Givat Shaul sector, loved ones announced.
The service comes two days after the 23-year-old’s body was recovered from a tunnel beneath Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, along with the remains of five other hostages on Saturday.
Goldberg-Polin’s parents, Rachel and Jon, and sisters, Leebie and Orly, left their home en route to the burial site at 2:45 p.m.
The heartbroken family — all wearing white — looked straight ahead when they were spotted through the windows of the car carrying them to the cemetery.
Supporters waving Israeli flags lined the roads of Jerusalem as the procession wound its way through the streets, the Times of Israel reported.
Mourners on Monday were also sitting shiva outside the family’s home nearby.
“The family will not be giving interviews — please be respectful of their privacy and space,” the representative added.
The funeral will be livestreamed from a single camera for viewers around the world.
The discovery of the bodies of Goldberg-Polin and five others on Saturday sparked a massive outpouring of grief and outrage across Israel.
The Israeli military identified the other five victims as Ori Danino, 25, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Almog Sarusi, 27, Alexander Lobanov, 33, and Carmel Gat, 40.
Autopsies revealed that all six had been alive as recently as 72 to 48 hours before they were found.
They were all shot multiple times at close range.
Goldberg-Polin had spent 10 months in captivity after he was abducted by Hamas from the Nova music festival on Oct. 7
“The tragic murder of Hersh, just months after we all saw his face in a hostage video released by Hamas, is nothing short of vicious and senseless,” the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said in a joint statement.
“It is more proof that Hamas is killing hostages in captivity. And it is a cruel reminder that with each passing day, the chances of bringing anyone home alive are at grave risk.
“For the last 331 days, we warned that this could happen. Enough is enough,” they said.
Goldberg-Polin’s killing also came shortly after his parents made an emotional appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
“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,” Jon Polin told the crowds.
Rachel Goldberg bowed her head and put her hand on her heart during the standing ovation for the couple.
She urged her son to “stay strong” and “survive.”
Around 100 hostages are still believed to be held in the Gaza Strip, including several other US citizens.
