Hamas to Return Remains of Israeli Officer Killed in 2014
GAZA – The armed wing of Hamas, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, announced Sunday it will hand over the remains of Israeli officer hadar Goldin, who was killed in Gaza in 2014. The handover is scheduled for 2 p.m. local time.
According to a statement published on Telegram, the remains were discovered in a tunnel in the city of Rafah. Goldin, 23, died on august 1st, 2014, during a mission with his reconnaissance unit in a tunnel near Rafah during a previous conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has not yet confirmed the identity of the remains.
The return of Goldin’s remains follows the repatriation of soldier oron Shaoul in January. Shaoul, 21 at the time of his death on July 20, 2014, was killed when his vehicle was struck by an explosion during a military operation in Gaza City.
For years, the remains of Goldin and Shaoul have been central to indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, often linked to potential prisoner releases.
Hadar Goldin is one of five deceased hostages whose bodies Hamas has yet to return to Israel under the ceasefire agreement that began on October 10th. The others include three Israelis and one Thai national, all of whom died during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which initiated the current war in Gaza.
