We woke up this morning to the devastating news that, amidst the ongoing horror of the war in Gaza, six hostages were murdered.

It was just a week ago that Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s parents, Rachel and Jon, spoke so passionately at the DNC about the pain that this war has brought, and about the need for an immediate ceasefire deal to see Hersh and the other hostages released.

NIF has been supporting the Hostage and Missing Families Forum—an umbrella organization representing most of the hostages’ families—since its creation. In a statement earlier today, the Forum said that the six “were taken alive, endured the horrors of captivity, and were then murdered in cold blood.” The statement also noted that “a deal for their return has been on the table for over two months. Were it not for the political maneuvers, the excuses, and the spin, the abductees whose deaths we learned about this morning would probably be alive.”

The forum is organizing a demonstration in Tel Aviv for tonight. A general strike has been called in Israel for tomorrow. We also know that there are events taking place in various cities in the United States. We encourage you to join these events if you are so moved.

We are as determined as ever, even with our endlessly broken hearts, to continue to work for an end to these horrors.