Heart-searing moment parents of American Hamas hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, break down as they beg their son to 'survive' and call for a ceasefire deal to end the 'surplus of agony on all sides'

The parents of an American taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel broke down in tears at the DNC last night as they begged their son to 'survive' and called for a ceasefire deal.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, lost his left hand and part of his arm from a grenade blast as he was kidnapped from the Nova Festival last year where he was celebrating his birthday and taken hostage by terrorists.

His parents, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, in a 10-minute speech to thousands of Democratic delegates last night recounted the 320 days of suffering they have endured by the 'competition of pain' in the Middle East.

Polin-Goldberg, who became overwhelmed with emotion whilst at the podium, told her son: 'Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive.'

The couple pleaded for the release of the dozens of people who continue to be held captive in Gaza and called for a ceasefire to end the 'surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East'.

They also revealed that they have met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris who are 'both working tirelessly' for a ceasefire and hostage deal that will 'bring our precious children, mothers, fathers, spouses, grandparents and grandchildren home'.

Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the parents of 23-year-old American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, broke down in tears at the DNC last night as they begged their son to 'survive' and called for a ceasefire deal

Hersh (pictured) and his best friend Aner, on October 7 last year, went to the Nova music festival - which was 'advertised as celebrating peace, love and unity' - in southern Israel to commemorate his 23rd birthday

The couple, wearing tickers with the number 320 to draw attention to the number of days their son has been held in captivity, were greeted with an extended ovation and chants of 'bring him home' by the thousands of Democratic delegates attending the conference in Chicago.

Goldberg-Polin addressed the crowd by noting how 'at this moment' there are '109 treasured human beings are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza'.

'They are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. They are from 23 different countries,' she said, pointing out how the youngest is one-year-old and the oldest is a 86-year-old grandfather.

'Among the hostages are eight American citizens. One of those Americans is our only son. His name is Hersh, he's 23 years old.'

She shared personal details about her 'respectful and curious' son, highlighting his humor, and love for music and travel, as well as how he supported the Hapoel Jerusalem soccer team.

Goldberg-Polin recounted how Hersh and his best friend Aner, on October 7 last year, went to the Nova music festival which was 'advertised as celebrating peace, love and unity' to commemorate his 23rd birthday.

Hersh's left forearm, his dominant arm, was blown off during a grenade attack before he was taken captive by Hamas terrorists

Rachel Polin-Goldberg, who became overwhelmed with emotion at the DNC podium last night, told her son: 'Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive'. The family are pictured together in a photo that was projected over the DNC stage yesterday

She shared how Hersh, Aner, and 27 others took 'refuge in a five-foot by eight-foot bomb shelter' as rockets erupted overhead.

'Terrorists began to throw grenades into the bunker. Aner stood in the doorway and repelled seven of those grenades before the eighth one killed him. Hersh's left forearm, his dominant arm, was blown off before he was loaded into a pickup truck and stolen from his life, and me and John, into Gaza.'

'That was 320 days ago. Since then, we live on another planet,' the teary-eyed mother added.

Her husband, also addressing the crowd, added: '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.'

The couple mostly steered clear of politics in their 10-minute speech, but Polin said the families of the American hostages meet regularly in Washington and are heartened to see bipartisan support for securing the release of their loved ones. 

Delegates of the 'uncommitted' movement, which was sparked by dissatisfaction with Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war, announced to reporters late yesterday that officials denied their request for a Palestinian to speak during the convention. 

The couple, pictured addressing delegates at the DNC last night as their son's photo was projected above them, mostly steered clear of politics in their 10-minute speech, but Jon Polin (left) said the families of the American hostages meet regularly in Washington and are heartened to see bipartisan support for securing the release of their loved ones

Rachel Goldberg-Polin broke down at the podium last night as she and her husband Jon Polin deliver remarks about the Israel-Hamas war

The group of 36 delegates has outsized influence as they stem from pivotal battleground states like Michigan, which is part of the so-called 'blue wall' critical to Democratic chances in November.

The movement's leaders had negotiated for weeks with the Harris campaign and convention organizers, and were given a panel Monday afternoon to discuss family members lost or maimed in Israel's offensive.

'I have asked for the vice president to call us back and tell us that the suppression of Palestinian Americans does not belong in the Democratic Party and a Palestinian speaker will speak on this stage,' Uncommitted National Movement co-founder Abbas Alawieh said. 'I'm waiting for the call.'

US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on convention organizers to make space for a Palestinian speaker.

'Just as we must honor the humanity of hostages, so too must we center the humanity of the 40,000 Palestinians killed under Israeli bombardment,' the New York lawmaker wrote on the X platform. 'To deny that story is to participate in the dehumanization of Palestinians.'

More than 100 hostages remain in Gaza, though some are believed to have died. Family members of six of the eight American hostages still held by Hamas were in Chicago to raise awareness about their loved ones' plight.

Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who is being held hostage in Gaza, leave the stage after speaking on Day 3 of the DNC in Chicago

Ronen and Orna Neutra, the parents of hostage Omer Neutra, were given a speaking slot at the Republican National Convention last month.

'Time is running out,' Ronen Neutra told reporters at the convention. 'And all leaders must work together in a bipartisan fashion to put pressure on both Hamas and the Israeli government and reach a deal that is so much overdue, so much overdue.'

On Tuesday, multiple pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested after clashing with police during a protest that began outside the Israeli consulate and spilled out onto the surrounding streets.

Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday as the United States presses Israel and Hamas to agree to a 'bridging proposal' that could lead to a cease-fire in the war in Gaza.