Remains of Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin Returned to Israel After Decade
JERUSALEM – The remains of Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier killed in gaza during the 2014 conflict, were returned to Israel on Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas militants. The return marks a meaningful development in efforts to recover the remains of Israeli soldiers and civilians missing or presumed dead in Gaza.
Since the current ceasefire began last month, militants have released the remains of 23 hostages. This exchange is occurring under the terms of a truce deal stipulating the return of all remains of hostages held in Gaza.For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel is releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians held in its custody. To date,300 Palestinian remains have been returned,with 89 positively identified,according to Ahmed Dheir,director of forensic medicine at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
Goldin was killed in Gaza on August 2,2014,during Operation Protective Edge,a military operation launched in response to rocket fire from Gaza. His body has been held by Hamas ever since,becoming a focal point of Israeli demands for the return of its citizens.
The war began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7,2023,resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths,the majority of whom were civilians,and the abduction of 251 individuals. As of Saturday, the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas and staffed by medical professionals, reported that 69,176 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict. Independent experts generally consider the ministry’s records to be reliable.
