By M10News Staff | Jerusalem | October 2025
Israel has received the body of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) officer killed during the 2014 Gaza conflict and whose remains had been held by Hamas for more than a decade.
The development marks a significant moment in the ongoing ceasefire arrangement between Israel and the militant group.
IDF confirmed that Lt Goldin, who was 23 years old at the time of his death, has been formally identified. He will be laid to rest in his hometown of Kfar Saba, leaving behind his parents, siblings, and fiancée.
According to Hamas’s armed wing, the return of Goldin’s remains was part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement currently in effect between Israel and Hamas.
Final Hostage Body Held Before 2023 War
Lt Goldin was the last Israeli soldier whose body remained in Gaza before the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault that reignited large-scale hostilities.
He was killed on August 1, 2014, near Rafah in southern Gaza, just hours after a ceasefire was declared during the 2014 conflict. Goldin and his unit were ambushed by Hamas fighters while patrolling an agricultural area.
Investigations by the Israeli military concluded that Goldin and two other soldiers were killed in the ensuing gunfight. His body was then dragged into a tunnel by militants. In response, Israel launched a four-day bombardment of Rafah, aimed at preventing his capture — an operation that led to widespread civilian casualties and international criticism.
Leaders and Families React
Lt Goldin’s father, Simcha Goldin, expressed relief and sorrow in a statement on Sunday.
“Victory means bringing home the hostages and bringing home our soldiers to Israel,” he said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog both said they had displayed Goldin’s photograph in their offices throughout the past 11 years as a reminder of their commitment to recovering him.
“We didn’t give up,” Netanyahu said. “I know the agony his family has endured and the longing that united the people of Israel. Today we are united in bringing him home to rest.”
President Herzog added that the government “would never give up” on its pledge to return all captives — living or dead — to Israel.
Ceasefire Implementation and Exchange Details
Under the ongoing U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Hamas has so far handed over 20 living hostages and 24 of 28 deceased hostages to Israel. Four hostages are still believed to be in Gaza — three Israeli and one Thai national.
In exchange, Israel has released 250 Palestinian inmates from its prisons and 1,718 detainees from Gaza holding facilities. Additionally, Israel returned the bodies of 300 Palestinians in the process that included the exchange of Lt Goldin’s remains.
The IDF noted that retrieving Goldin’s body was the result of years of intelligence gathering and sustained operational efforts since 2014.
A military spokesperson said in a statement:
“We extend our deepest condolences to the Goldin family. The Israel Defense Forces remain committed to returning every captive and fallen soldier.”
Ceasefire Under Strain
Despite the agreement, violations have continued on both sides. On Saturday, two Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli fire near Gaza’s eastern border. The IDF said the individuals had crossed into Israeli territory and posed an imminent threat.
Medical officials in Gaza confirmed one death and one injury in separate incidents near Bureij refugee camp and Khan Younis. The Gaza Health Ministry, run by Hamas, reported that at least 241 people have been killed by Israeli strikes since the ceasefire took effect.
The ongoing truce also includes commitments to expand humanitarian aid to Gaza and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, though both parties have accused each other of breaching the terms.
Context of a Prolonged Conflict
Lt Goldin’s return comes amid one of the bloodiest chapters in the decades-long Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Since the October 2023 Hamas-led attack, which killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, Israel has carried out a massive military campaign in Gaza.
According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, at least 69,176 Palestinians have been killed — figures that the United Nations says it treats as credible, though unverified.
Analysts say the return of Lt Goldin’s remains could strengthen calls within Israel for the government to continue negotiations to retrieve the remaining hostages, while also highlighting the human toll of a conflict that shows few signs of resolution.
Symbol of National Perseverance
For many Israelis, Lt Goldin’s homecoming represents more than a personal tragedy — it is a symbol of persistence and unity. His case had become a national cause over the past decade, with his parents repeatedly urging successive governments to prioritise bringing him home.
Goldin’s story has also fueled debate over Israel’s longstanding policy of trading prisoners and bodies with Hamas — a practice some view as necessary humanitarian reciprocity and others as a potential incentive for future abductions.
As his family prepares for burial, the nation continues to grapple with the heavy cost of war and the hope that someday, all captives — living and fallen — will return home.
