Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Nov 11: Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday handed over the remains of Israeli soldier Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, who was killed during the 2014 Gaza war, to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The transfer comes under the terms of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement requiring Hamas to return the remains of 28 Israeli hostages. With this latest handover, four bodies still remain in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Goldin’s remains were received by Israeli troops in Gaza. “Lieutenant Hadar Goldin fell in heroic combat during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. His body was abducted by Hamas, which refused to return him throughout this entire period,” Netanyahu said at Sunday’s Cabinet meeting.
Goldin, 23 at the time of his death, was part of a unit assigned to locate and destroy Hamas tunnels when he was killed during a humanitarian ceasefire in Rafah. Hamas’ armed wing said the remains were recently discovered in a tunnel in Rafah, and Israeli forensics have confirmed the identification.
Goldin becomes the 24th hostage whose remains have been returned by Hamas since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials have denied media reports suggesting that Hamas delayed the handover in exchange for safe passage for more than 100 trapped militants in Rafah. “No such deal took place,” Israeli authorities clarified.
Goldin’s family, along with the family of another soldier, Oron Shaul — whose remains were recovered earlier this year — had led a long public campaign to bring their sons home for burial.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog paid tribute to the Goldin family, saying on X, “The people of Israel embrace Hadar’s family today with deep love and boundless admiration for their unwavering strength and relentless struggle to bring Hadar home.”
The 2023 Gaza war began with Hamas’ assault on southern Israel on October 7, which killed nearly 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and saw 251 hostages taken into Gaza. According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 69,176 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s ongoing offensive, though independent estimates suggest the toll could be higher.
Israel reports that 479 of its soldiers have been killed since the ground offensive began in late October 2023.
The fragile ceasefire, effective since October 10, continues to hold despite intermittent violations and mutual accusations from both sides.