Israel receives body of soldier held in Gaza since 2014

After more than a decade of anguish, Israel has finally received the body of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, the soldier killed in Gaza during the 2014 conflict and whose remains had been held by Hamas since his death. The announcement brought a wave of both relief and sorrow across Israel as the long-awaited return marked the end of one of the country’s most painful chapters.

The Israeli military confirmed that Lt. Goldin’s body was formally identified on Monday. He was 23 years old when he was killed during a Hamas ambush in Rafah, southern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said his remains will now be laid to rest with full military honors. Goldin leaves behind his parents, a sister, two brothers, and a fiancée who had been engaged to him just weeks before his final mission.

Hamas’s armed wing announced over the weekend that it would hand over Lt. Goldin’s body as part of a continuing ceasefire agreement. Under the current deal, Hamas has returned all 20 living hostages and 24 of the 28 deceased hostages it had held. Israeli officials confirmed that the exchange was coordinated through international mediators, with intense security and intelligence efforts ensuring the safe transfer.

Lt. Goldin’s father, Simcha Goldin, who has campaigned tirelessly for his son’s return, said in a statement: “Victory means bringing home the hostages and bringing home our soldiers to Israel.” His words reflected the sentiment of a nation that has followed the Goldin family’s struggle for over a decade.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog both paid tribute to the fallen soldier, recalling how they had kept his photograph in their offices for the past 11 years as a reminder of their commitment to bring him home. “We never gave up,” Netanyahu said. “I know the agony his family has endured. Today, the people of Israel are united in bringing Hadar home to his parents, to his family, and to a grave in Israel.”

The IDF said the recovery of Goldin’s body was the result of years of extensive intelligence work and complex operations conducted both during and after the 2014 war. The military expressed its “deep condolences to the family” and pledged to continue efforts to recover all remaining hostages and missing soldiers.

President Herzog echoed that commitment, saying the government “will continue to act tirelessly until every hostage and fallen soldier is brought home.”

Of the four hostages still believed to be held in Gaza, three are Israeli citizens and one is Thai. For many Israelis, the return of Lt. Goldin’s remains represents both closure for one family and a reminder of the ongoing humanitarian and emotional toll of the conflict.