Late Israeli Soldier Hadar Goldin's Remains Finally Returned
In a recent development, the remains of an Israeli military officer, Hadar Goldin, who tragically lost his life in Gaza in 2014, have been returned to Israel. This marks the end of a seven-year wait, during which his body was held captive by enemy forces in the region.
The 23-year-old Lieutenant's identity was verified through thorough forensic tests, as confirmed by the office of the Israeli Prime Minister. Hadar Goldin had been killed shortly after a ceasefire agreement ended a war between Israel and a militant group in 2014.
A Nation's Sorrow
The government and the entire Israeli Defense Forces have expressed their heartfelt condolences to the Goldin family and the families of other deceased victims whose bodies have not yet been returned home. The Israeli military is fully committed to ensuring that all their fallen comrades are returned home for a dignified burial.
The militant group in control of Gaza had found and retrieved Goldin's body from a tunnel in the city of Rafah. The Israeli military had previously established that Goldin was deceased, based on evidence found, including a shirt stained with blood and prayer fringes.
Efforts to Return All Captives
There are still four more individuals who were taken hostage and killed during an attack in 2023 whose remains are yet to be returned. The recent return of Goldin's remains is a significant milestone in a peace agreement brokered by the U.S. The return of the bodies of Israeli hostages has been slow, raising fears about the stability of the truce.
Goldin's family and the people of Israel are relieved to finally have closure after an agonizing 11-year period. Goldin has come to symbolize national resilience in the face of adversity. The Prime Minister expressed regret for the prolonged suffering of Goldin's family, who will now be able to accord him a Jewish burial.
Campaigns for the Return of Lost Soldiers
The Goldin family, along with the family of another soldier whose body was taken in 2014, had spearheaded a public campaign for the return of their sons. The other soldier, Oron Shaul, had his remains returned earlier this year.
The Israeli government is determined to continue efforts to bring home the bodies of all Israelis who lost their lives in service, including Eli Cohen, a celebrated Israeli spy who was executed in Damascus in 1965.
Speculation has been rife that the militant group has been holding off on the return of Goldin's body as a bargaining chip for safe passage for their fighters. However, Israel has maintained that they are not open to any negotiations that could potentially change the existing agreements.
Funeral of Staff Sgt. Itay Chen
The funeral of Staff Sgt. Itay Chen, an American-Israeli soldier who was killed in an attack in 2023 and whose body was returned recently, was held in Tel Aviv. Chen, 19, was a part of the 77th Battalion of the 7th Brigade and was taken captive by the militant group after falling from a tank. His death was officially confirmed in 2024.
A large crowd gathered at Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv to pay their respects. In a moving eulogy, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff praised the strength of Chen's family and their determination to keep his memory alive.
More Hostages to be Returned
Since the truce began, the remains of 23 hostages have been returned by the militants. The truce agreement stipulates the return of all Israeli hostages' remains. In return, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli returned. The remains of 300 Palestinians have now been returned, with 89 identified.
The conflict, which began with an attack on southern Israel in 2023, resulted in the death of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the kidnapping of 251 people. The death toll of Palestinians in Gaza has recently been reported to have risen to 69,176.