Hamas returns remains of 2014 Gaza war officer to Israel

Israel announced on Sunday that it had received the remains of a hostage, which Hamas claims belong to Israeli officer Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was killed in the 2014 Gaza war.

The militant group stated that Goldin’s remains were found in a tunnel beneath the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The handover was scheduled for Sunday afternoon, marking a big development in the current US-brokered truce and concluding a painful, 11-year ordeal for the soldier’s family.

Lt. Goldin was killed in an ambush on August 1, 2014, shortly after a humanitarian ceasefire took effect during “Operation Protective Edge.” His body was subsequently captured by Hamas militants. Since then, his family has spearheaded a high-profile campaign for the return of his remains.

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If confirmed by Israeli forensic experts, the return of Goldin’s body would be the 24th set of deceased hostage remains transferred by Hamas since the start of the current ceasefire on October 10.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed to his cabinet that Israel was expecting to receive the remains, acknowledging the “deep anguish” endured by the Goldin family, who will now be able to lay him to rest.

The handover followed reports that Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visited the Goldin family, reiterating the IDF’s commitment to retrieving the remains of all fallen soldiers held in Gaza.

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The return of Lt. Goldin’s body was a key, long-standing issue that predates the recent conflict and the mass abductions of October 7, 2023.