Hostage-taking in Israel: Tragic loss shocks nation and triggers protests

Israel announced on Sunday that it had recovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza, including a young Israeli-American man who had become one of Hamas's most high-profile prisoners. He was taken after his parents lobbied world leaders for his release, including a stirring appearance at the Democratic National Convention last month.

The government's statement sparked mass protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who many of the hostages' families blame for failing to secure their release under a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that has been under negotiation for months.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, was kidnapped by militants on October 7 during an attack on a music festival in southern Israel. In April, a video released by Hamas increased public calls for government intervention. According to Israeli military spokesmen, he was one of six hostages recently killed shortly before Israeli forces could rescue them. The bodies were found in a tunnel in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

(With contributions from agencies.)