Jewish communal organisations in the UK have expressed their deep sorrow at the news of the murder of six hostages in Gaza.
On Saturday, the IDF discovered the bodies of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Ori Danino, 25, Alex Lobanov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and Almog Sarusi, 27 in a tunnel in Rafah.
The hostages were murdered by Hamas shortly before the Israeli army was able to reach them, said the IDF
The Chief Rabbi published a statement on X/Twitter, saying: “The devastating news of the cruel murder in captivity of Ori Danino, Almog Sarusi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Alexander Lobanov and Eden Yerushalmi has plunged us into the depths of deepest grief.
"On this dark day, we mourn alongside their dear families who have endured unimaginable adversity over the last 330 days. May they be comforted in their agonising loss and may we soon see the safe return of every one of the remaining hostages.”
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Photo: Getty Images)
The movement for Progressive Judaism, the umbrella body for the Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism, posted on X/Twitter: “Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones and the thousands of us across the world who brought their pictures and stories into our homes and communities daily. May their memory be a blessing.
“Our thoughts are also with the other hostage families and our friends, family and colleagues in Israel who ask us to continue to amplify their voice. These six hostages, kidnapped alive on 7th October, were later murdered while in captivity.”
The organisation added that it supported calls for the Israeli public to “join a massive demonstration, demanding a complete halt of the country and the immediate implementation of a deal to release the hostages and bring them home”.
Rabbi Wittenberg, senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism, posted on social media: “Deeply, deeply pained at the terrible news of the murder by Hamas of 6 hostages. They were young, full of hope & courage. My heart goes out to their families. I pray for an end to this dreadful war and its suffering for everyone, and the return home of all the other hostages.”
Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, senior rabbi at Masorti Judaism (Photo: Masorti Judaism)
Responding to the news, Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said: “The Board of Deputies is devastated today to learn of the murder of six young abductees by Hamas in Gaza.
“Hamas started this war with a terrorist rampage that killed more Jews than on any single day since the Holocaust. This included an attack on the Nova music festival - a festival like Reading or Glastonbury in the UK - from where five of those whose deaths were announced today were taken.
He added that the Board “extend our arms in grief” to the families of the murdered hostages. “No words can convey what we feel, so our tears must do the talking.
“Hamas must be held to account for its barbarity. They must release the remaining hostages immediately. We wish the leaders of Israel the wisdom, strength and determination to bring the remaining hostages home now.”
Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg (Photo: Phil Rosenberg)
The Hostages Families Forum, which has a UK branch, released a statement saying:
“With deep sorrow, we once again announce the murder of six hostages. These six individuals were taken alive, endured the horrors of captivity, and were then coldly murdered.
“A deal for the return of the hostages has been on the table for over two months. Were it not for the delays, sabotage, and excuses those whose deaths we learned about this morning would likely still be alive. It's time to bring our hostages home - the living for rehabilitation, and the fallen and murdered for burial in their homelands.”
UJIA, which is supporting a project to rebuild the southern communities of Israel and Kibbutz Be’eri, from where Carmel Gat was abducted, said they were “heartbroken” by the news of the murder of the hostages. “Our prayers are with their loved ones and wish them long life. May their memories be a blessing.”
Some of the communities had “adopted” a hostage as part of the Board of Deputies “Adopt a Hostage” scheme.
Educational organisation Seed had “adopted” the hostage Almog Sarusi. Its head wrote on Facebook that they were “heartbroken” to hear about the murder of the hostages and that they had “been praying daily” for Almog. They wrote: “We wish his father, Yigal, along with the rest of his family and the families of all the hostages, a long life. May their memories forever be a blessing.”
