Israel Receives Remains of Lt. Hadar Goldin After Nearly a Decade

Israel has received the remains of Lt. Hadar Goldin, a soldier killed in an ambush by Hamas in 2014. His body had been held in Gaza since shortly after his death. The Israeli military confirmed the formal identification of Lt. Goldin, who was just 23 years old when he was killed, and stated that he will now be buried. He is survived by his parents, a sister, two brothers, and a fiancée.

The return of Lt. Goldin’s body was part of a ceasefire agreement, as announced by the armed wing of Hamas on Sunday. As part of the same deal, Hamas has returned all 20 living hostages and 24 out of 28 deceased hostages in the first phase of the agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences to Lt. Goldin’s family, stating that they can now give him a proper Jewish burial. He reiterated his commitment to bringing back the remains of all deceased hostages, saying, “We have returned 250 so far. We will bring them all back.”

Decade-Long Efforts to Retrieve Remains

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) indicated that their efforts to retrieve Lt. Goldin’s remains involved extensive intelligence operations and ground activities over the past decade, particularly during the two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas. The IDF expressed its “deep condolences” to the family and reaffirmed its dedication to recovering all deceased hostages.

Lt. Goldin was killed on August 1, 2014, soon after a ceasefire had been declared in that year’s war between Israel and Hamas. He was part of a patrol in an agricultural area near Rafah in southern Gaza when he and his comrades were ambushed by Hamas fighters. The Israeli military concluded that Lt. Goldin was killed in the ensuing firefight, and his body was subsequently taken into an underground tunnel by Hamas militants.

In response to this incident, the IDF launched a significant bombardment campaign aimed at preventing Hamas from taking Lt. Goldin hostage. This military action resulted in numerous civilian casualties in Rafah, with scores of Palestinian civilians reported killed during the four-day bombardment that followed.

Current Situation and Ongoing Conflict

On the day Lt. Goldin’s remains were returned, Israeli military operations in Gaza continued. Reports indicated that two Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza when they crossed a designated line of control, which the Israeli military described as posing an “immediate threat.” Additionally, one Palestinian was killed and another wounded by Israeli fire in separate incidents reported by local medical officials.

The Hamas-run health ministry reported that Israeli military actions have resulted in at least 241 fatalities since the ceasefire began. Following the October 7, 2023 attack, in which Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage, the Israeli military has launched a campaign in Gaza that has reportedly resulted in more than 69,176 deaths according to the same health ministry.

The return of Lt. Goldin’s remains marks a significant moment for his family and the broader Israeli community, who have long awaited closure following his tragic loss.