Remains of Goldin, who was killed in 2014, have been held by Hamas for 11 years
Hedar Goldin. Screengrab via Youtube
The Hamas terror organization announced Saturday evening that it had located the body of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, who was killed during Operation Protective Edge in 2014 and whose body has been held in Gaza since then.
Hamas claimed Hadar’s body was discovered after searches in the Tel a-Sultan neighborhood in the Rafah area. The terror organization showed video footage of the recovery on the Qatari Al Jazeera network, in which armed Hamas fighters escort a group people clothed in white protective gear. The group is seen entering a tunnel in a large sand pit, and later the remains are seen in a white plastic body bag.
Hamas said it will hand the remains of Goldin to the Red Cross for transport to Israel.
Israeli analysts have said the Al Jazeera video appears to be staged, as the terror group is apparently attempting to tie the return of Goldin’s remains to a deal for safe passage for 200 Hamas fighters trapped behind the Yellow Line. According to a report on Israel’s Channel 12, the U.S. is also pressuring the Israeli government to make a deal in which Goldin’s remains would be returned in exchange for the safe passage of the trapped militants.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated last week, after pressure from coalition partners and opposition heads, that he was not willing to grant safe passage to the Hamas fighters.
Following the Hamas announcement, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited the Goldin family. The defense establishment believes that the hostage remains are in fact the late Lieutenant Goldin, but is waiting for the return of the remains for proper identification.
Hadar’s family released a statement following Zamir’s visit in which it also expressed hope and reservation.
“An entire country is waiting for Hadar to be returned to us,” the family said. “This is a mission that we must and can fulfill for the sake of all of us. The Chief of Staff arrived at the end of Shabbat to update us on the tremendous efforts to free the hostages and we salute everyone involved in this national mission.”
“We are waiting for news of official confirmation that Hadar has returned to Israel. We do not give up on anyone in the country, ever. We ask that you remain calm. Until it is final, it is not over,” the statement continued.
On Sunday morning, following the failure to return Goldin’s remains, an Israeli official said the government views the failure as a violation of the ceasefire deal.
“Israel views with great severity the violation of the delay in the return of the kidnapped soldier Hadar Goldin, who Hamas claims is in its hands,” the official stated. “Israel demands his immediate return.”
During Operation Protective Edge in July 2014, Hadar Goldin served as a team commander in the Givati Infantry Brigade. On August 1, 2014, shortly after a 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire went into effect, Hamas violated the ceasefire by attacking IDF soldiers from a tunnel.
During the fighting, a force from the Givati Brigade went out to inspect the tunnel entrance. The force was ambushed by Hamas fighters, and three soldiers, including Goldin, were killed. Goldin’s body was not recovered from the scene of the attack, and his remains have been held by Hamas since.
Hadar was 23-years-old at the time of his death, and had recently become engaged to his girlfriend, Edna Seroussi. Just days before his death, Goldin had finished the wedding invitations, his family said. In the 11 years since his death and the kidnapping of his body, his family has pleaded with the Israeli government to secure the release of his remains as part of previous ceasefire agreements with the Hamas terror organization following rounds of fighting and IDF operations in Gaza.
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