Parents of an American held by Hamas demand the release of the hostages during the Democratic Party Convention

The parents of a 23-year-old American man taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel delivered a stirring speech at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday calling for the release of the dozens of people who remain held captive in the Gaza Strip.

“This is a political convention. But the need to bring our only son – and all the beloved hostages – home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue,” said Jon Polin, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin lost part of his left arm and was kidnapped by Israeli militants who attacked the music festival he was attending.

REGARD: Parents of Hamas hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin speak at the 2024 Democratic National Convention

Polin and his wife, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, were greeted with sustained applause and shouts of “Bring him home” from the thousands of Democratic delegates in Chicago.

They steered clear of political issues in their 10-minute speech, but Jon Polin said the families of the American hostages meet regularly in Washington and are encouraged to see bipartisan support for the release of their loved ones. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, he said, are “both working tirelessly” toward an agreement between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages.

“Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong and survive,” said Rachel Polin-Goldberg.

She and her husband wore stickers with the number 320 to mark the number of days their son had been detained.

The speech gave an emotional and human face to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. This is a sensitive issue for the Democrats. Pro-Palestinian protesters are urging them to be more forceful in urging Israel to end the siege. Large parts of the Gaza Strip have been razed to the ground and tens of thousands of people have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry makes no distinction between militants and civilians when counting the number of deaths.

More than 100 hostages are still in Gaza, some of whom are believed to have died. Family members of six of the eight American hostages still being held by Hamas were in Chicago to draw attention to the plight of their loved ones.

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 the Associated Press at the Democratic National Convention. “And all politicians must work together across party lines to put pressure on Hamas and the Israeli government to reach an agreement that is so long overdue, so long overdue.”

On Tuesday, several pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested after clashes with police during a protest that began in front of the Israeli consulate and spread to surrounding streets.

Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday as the United States pressures Israel and Hamas to agree to a “bridging proposal” that could lead to a ceasefire in the Gaza war.