Six Israeli Hostages, Including American, Found Murdered in Gaza: World Reacts
Plus, Reports of Venezuelan migrant gang taking over Colorado apartment buildings
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Hey all—
We have some amazing Paralympian stories to start the week!
American Matt Stutzman, the “armless archer,” won gold on Sunday and set a new record with 149/150 possible points in Para archery.
Stutzman, who was born without arms, learned to do everything with his feet. He said employers would not hire him because of his disability. Then, in 2010, watching archery on TV, Stutzman decided that’s how he would make money because “a bow doesn't care who shoots it."
Less than two years later, he qualified to compete in the 2012 Paralympics in London and won silver. Then in 2015, Stutzman broke the world record for the farthest accurate archery shot with a compound bow of any athlete with any ability.
Sticking with archery, Great Britain's Jodie Grinham has become the first pregnant Paralympic athlete to win a medal.
On Saturday, Grinham took home bronze in women's individual compound for Para Archery while seven months pregnant with her second child. She competes having been born with a short left arm, no fingers and only half a thumb on her left hand.
Grinham had to learn how to compete while her very active baby moved around! During her matches, she talked to the baby, saying things like "mummy loves you, I'll cuddle you in a minute."
Have a good one!
Mosheh, Jill, & Lauren
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📌 OUTRAGE AFTER SIX HOSTAGES, INCLUDING AN AMERICAN, FOUND MURDERED BY HAMAS IN GAZA
The months-long push for a cease-fire and hostage-release deal is facing renewed urgency after Israeli forces discovered the bodies of six hostages murdered by Hamas, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
On Saturday, Israeli forces found the six hostages murdered in the tunnels under the Gaza city of Rafah.
Thousands of mourners lined the streets of Jerusalem on Monday as 23-year-old Goldberg-Polin was laid to rest. Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said, “I apologize on behalf of the State of Israel, that we failed to protect you in the terrible disaster of October 7, that we failed to bring you home safely.”
He and the five others, who survived for nearly a year in captivity, were reportedly killed hours before Israeli forces reached them, as troops battled Hamas terrorists above ground. Hamas guards, who have received orders to kill hostages if Israeli troops are nearby, appear to have fled the area after murdering the hostages.
From top left: Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov and Carmel Gat; from bottom left: Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi and Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
329 DAYS IN CAPTIVITY
"You did every single thing pretty right to survive 329 days in what can only be described as hell,” Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Hersh’s mother, said in a heart-breaking eulogy Monday. “If there was something we could have done to save you, and we didn’t think of it, I beg your forgiveness. We tried so very hard, so deeply and desperately. I’m sorry.”
Hersh, along with Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Ori Danino were abducted from the Nova music festival while Carmel Gat was taken from a nearby village. They ranged in age from 23 to 40 years old.
Since October 7th, Rachel and her husband Jon met with the UN secretary general, the Pope, President Biden, and more to plead for help to get the hostages released. They also spoke last month at the Democratic National Convention.
BRING THEM HOME
Hundreds of thousands of Israeli protesters (nearly 5% of the country’s population) took to the streets this weekend to demand the Israeli government negotiate a deal to bring the remaining hostages home. It was the largest protest in nearly two years. [It would be the equivalent of about 20 million Americans protesting.] Israel's largest trade union went on strike to disrupt major sectors of the economy— from education to transportation, finance— with the same aim.
Of the nearly 250 hostages first taken by Hamas last October, just over 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza. Israel believes 2/3 of them are still alive.
Seven American hostages remain in captivity. The Israeli military believes four are still alive, and three were killed by Hamas on Oct. 7, but their bodies have not been returned.
Note: 105 hostages were released during a temporary ceasefire deal last November. Eight others have been rescued alive over the last year.
WHAT’S NEXT
President Biden said he was “devastated and outraged” by the news, and that “Hamas will pay for these crimes.” He added that he was “very close” to presenting a final hostage deal proposal this week, before criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for not doing enough to get a deal.
On Monday, Netanyahu defended his approach and asked rhetorically what message a deal now would send: “Slay hostages and you’ll get concessions?”
Hamas wants Israel to withdraw completely from Gaza and end the war. Netanyahu and the current Israeli government are looking to maintain control of an area called the Philadelphi Corridor, on the Egypt/Gaza border, which Hamas has used to smuggle in weapons and rockets. Keeping troops there is being hotly debated among Israeli leaders.
📌 VIRAL VIDEO PUTS MIGRANT GANG IN COLORADO IN FOCUS
Viral surveillance video showing an armed Venezuelan gang forcing their way into an apartment in Aurora, Colorado has set off a major national debate. A city councilwoman says the gang is in control of several apartment complexes as the migrant crisis has grown, while other local and state authorities dispute the allegation.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman (R) says the city “lost control” of the gang, and blamed the Biden administration for a failed border policy. At the same time, Coffman said the incident is being blown out of proportion in media reports.
WHAT’S GOING ON?
In the original video, from August 18, armed men reportedly associated with Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang knocked on doors throughout a building in Aurora— located just outside Denver— eventually forcing their way into one apartment.
Resident Cindy Romero, whose security camera captured the video, says crime— including shootouts— has become rampant, and police have done little to help. There are also allegations residents are being forced to pay rent to gangs.
However, Aurora Police Department officers over the weekend went to the complex to speak with residents. They said that while gang members are in the community, they “have not taken over the complex.”
The city says arrests have been made, blamed “out-of-state owners of these properties,” and assured that Aurora is a safe place to live, work and visit.
The mayor said inaccurate news coverage is creating problems as their cities try to deal with the gang. “It’s overwhelming our 911 system, or our emergency call center, and so it’s actually hurting our ability to respond to crime,” Coffman said.
At a rally in Pennsylvania on Friday, former President Donald Trump claimed migrants have taken over parts of the Aurora and promised to deport the Venezuelan gang members.
THE NUMBERS
Denver, a city of about 750,000, has taken in nearly 40,000 migrants in two years, the most per-capita of any major US city. It has cost the city more than $70 million over two years, and the issue has spilled across the border. At the same time, violent crime across Denver and the state of Colorado is down the first half of this year compared to the last two years.
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 Trump looks at plan that could give Elon Musk role in auditing US agencies (WASHINGTON POST)
📌 2024 turning into boys vs. girls election with record gender gap: Men prefer Trump, Women prefer Harris (AXIOS)
📌 Hunter Biden second federal criminal trial set to begin this week (THE HILL)
📌 Thousands of hotel workers continue nationwide strike on Labor Day, demanding higher pay (NBC NEWS)
📌 49ers player released from hospital after being shot in attempted robbery in San Francisco (ABC NEWS)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 15 ISIS terrorists killed, 7 US troops injured during Iraq raid (MILITARY TIMES)
📌 US seizes Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's plane (BBC)
📌 AfD becomes first far-right party to win German state election since 1945 (CNN)
📌 Musk’s Starlink defies order to block X in Brazil (NY TIMES)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
📌 Railings on Titanic's iconic bow— immortalized by Jack and Rose in the famous movie scene— have broken off (NBC NEWS)
📌 NASA provides explanation for 'strange noises' coming from Boeing Starliner spacecraft (FOX NEWS)
📌 ‘A very serious situation’: Volkswagen could close plants in Germany for the first time in history (CNN)
📌 Computer tablet use linked to angry outbursts among toddlers, research shows (CBS NEWS)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 ESPN and Disney go dark for millions of DirecTV customers amid contract dispute (CBS NEWS)
📌 Paris mayor plans to keep Olympic rings on Eiffel Tower (GUARDIAN)
📌 Norwegian princess marries American self-styled shaman in front of star-studded audience (CNN)
📌 Venice Film Festival welcomes Pitt and Clooney, and their new film ‘Wolfs’ (AP)
🗓 ON THIS DAY: SEPTEMBER 3
1783: The US and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the Revolutionary War and recognizing US sovereignty.
1838: Frederick Douglass successfully escaped slavery in Maryland to freedom in New York City.
1984: Sade released ‘Smooth Operator.’
2002: Napster, the internet music pioneer that allowed millions to exchange music online for free, officially shut down after copyright infringement lawsuits.