Israel confirms receiving the remains of a soldier killed in Gaza in 2014

Israel Recovers Remains of Soldier After 11-Year Wait, Marking Milestone in Gaza Truce

Israel confirmed Sunday it had received the remains of Hadar Goldin, a soldier killed in the Gaza Strip in 2014, closing a painful chapter for his family and the nation after an agonizing 11-year wait.

The 23-year-old Goldin was killed two hours after a ceasefire took effect during the 2014 Israel-Hamas war. His family had conducted a relentless public campaign to bring home his remains, marking 4,000 days earlier this year since his body was taken by Hamas militants.

Israeli military officials had long determined Goldin was killed based on evidence found in the tunnel where his body was taken, including a blood-soaked shirt and prayer fringes. His remains had been the only ones left in Gaza predating the current Israel-Hamas conflict, which began after the October 7, 2023 attack.

The return represents a significant development in the fragile U.S.-brokered truce, which has faced challenges including the slow return of hostages’ bodies and ongoing skirmishes between Israeli forces and militants in Gaza. Dozens of Israelis gathered along intersections where the police convoy transported Goldin’s remains to the national forensic institute, paying their last respects.

Later, more people assembled outside the home of Goldin’s parents, who noted the “many disappointments” in their efforts over the years. In what appeared to be criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they emphasized that Israel’s military—”not anyone else”—had brought home their son.

Netanyahu addressed the development during the weekly Cabinet meeting, acknowledging the “great agony” Goldin’s family endured, saying they “will now be able to give him a Jewish burial.” Earlier this year, Israel also recovered the remains of Oron Shaul, another soldier killed in 2014.

Behind the scenes, diplomatic efforts continue to maintain the ceasefire. Jared Kushner, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and a key architect of Washington’s 20-point ceasefire plan, has reportedly returned to Israel to help press ahead with truce efforts. His visit has not been publicly announced, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The current deal, which took effect October 10, has focused primarily on halting the fighting, releasing hostages, and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Details about the second phase—including deploying an international security force, disarming Hamas, and governing postwar Gaza—remain unresolved.

Some reports indicate Kushner has been helping negotiate safe passage for 150-200 trapped Hamas militants in exchange for surrendering their weapons, following the release of Goldin’s remains. Israeli media had previously suggested that Hamas delayed releasing Goldin’s body in hopes of securing safe passage for militants surrounded by Israeli forces in Rafah.

However, Gila Gamliel, Israel’s minister of innovation, science and technology and a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, rejected this characterization, telling Army Radio that Israel wasn’t negotiating additional terms. “There are agreements whose implementation is guaranteed by the mediators, and we shouldn’t allow anyone to come now and play games and to reopen the agreement,” she said.

For the Goldin family, the return brings closure to an excruciating ordeal. Leah Goldin, Hadar’s mother, had previously described the uncertainty as a “knife constantly making new cuts.” The family had earlier held what she called a “pseudo-funeral” at the urging of military rabbis, but true closure remained elusive.

In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this year, Leah Goldin emphasized that returning her son’s body carried profound ethical and religious significance, representing the covenant Israel makes with its citizens who are required by law to serve in the military.

“Hadar is a soldier who went to combat and they abandoned him, and they destroyed his humanitarian rights and ours as well,” Goldin had said, noting that her family often felt isolated in their struggle to bring home Hadar, a talented artist who had just become engaged before his death.

The current ceasefire agreement also addresses Palestinian remains. For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel releases the remains of 15 Palestinians. Ahmed Dheir, director of forensic medicine at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, reported that remains of 300 Palestinians have now been returned, with 89 identified.

The October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in 251 people being kidnapped. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Palestinian deaths in the subsequent conflict have reached 69,176. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas government but is staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed records considered generally reliable by independent experts.