Hamas has transferred remains believed to be those of Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier killed in 2014 whose body was reportedly held as a negotiating asset for over 4,000 days, Israel announced on Sunday.
Goldin, serving as a lieutenant with the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Givati Brigade, was killed on August 1, 2014, just two hours after a 72-hour ceasefire had commenced, which effectively ended that year’s conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“We are scheduled to receive the body of Lt. Hadar Goldin this afternoon,” Israeli Prime Minister [Name] declared at a government meeting earlier on Sunday. He added, “From the foundation of the state – from the War of Independence to the War of Redemption – we have a commitment to retrieve our soldiers who fell in battle, and we are fulfilling that commitment.”
Hamas announced on Saturday that it had located Goldin’s body in a tunnel in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, and stated it would return the body on Sunday afternoon local time.
The Prime Minister’s office confirmed on Sunday that Israel had received a coffin from the Red Cross within the Gaza Strip. The office specified that the remains must still undergo an official identification process by the Health Ministry National Center of Forensic Medicine, after which the family will be notified.
Goldin’s body had been retained in Gaza for a total of 4,118 days. As part of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement, the Hamas militant group is expected to return the remains of all its hostages, most of whom were seized during the October 7, 2023 attacks.
Goldin’s parents had been leading an extensive campaign aimed at bringing their son home for burial.
“Those who abandon the dead will abandon the wounded and the living,” Goldin’s family consistently stated over the years.
Initially, Israel believed Goldin had been abducted and was being held captive, but later determined the soldier had been killed after discovering evidence—including a blood-soaked shirt and prayer fringes—in a tunnel where Goldin was taken.
Since the ceasefire began last month, Hamas has released the remains of 23 hostages. In exchange for each set of remains returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians.
The October 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel resulted in 251 individuals being kidnapped and 1,200 killed in Israel, the majority of whom were civilians.
Earlier this year, the Israeli military also recovered the body of another soldier who perished during the 2014 conflict.
‘ Yonat Friling and