Israel has confirmed that the remains returned by Hamas belong to Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, an Israeli officer killed in the 2014 Gaza war. Goldin’s body was taken by Hamas militants after he was killed in an ambush near Rafah, and his remains were recovered from a tunnel in Gaza. The return of Goldin’s remains marks a significant moment for Israel, where the military’s creed of leaving no soldier behind is treated as sacred.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the return as a moment of national relief, saying, “Today, we are united in having finally brought him back to his parents and his family to be laid to rest in Israel.” Goldin’s family had waged a relentless campaign for over a decade to bring him home, and his return brings closure to a painful chapter in their lives.
The return of Goldin’s remains is part of a larger ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which has led to the release of 20 living hostages and the return of 24 deceased hostages. In exchange, Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned the bodies of hundreds killed in Gaza. The agreement has been facilitated by international mediators, including the United States and Turkey.
