Remains of Israeli Soldier Hadar Goldin Repatriated After 11 Years
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After more than a decade, Israel has confirmed the return of the remains of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier who died in the Gaza Strip in 2014. The repatriation, completed last Sunday, marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to recover Israeli citizens lost in conflict.
A Long Wait for Closure
The Israeli Army reported receiving the coffin, delivered through the Red Cross by Hamas, containing the remains of a deceased hostage from Gaza. Confirmation of the identity followed hours later, bringing an end to 11 years of uncertainty for Goldin’s family and the nation. According to the Israeli military, the body corresponds to Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, who died on August 1, 2014, during the Israeli offensive in Gaza. His remains were discovered “in a tunnel in the city of Rafah.”
Operation Protective Edge and Previous Recoveries
Lieutenant Goldin was killed and abducted by Hamas during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. This latest development follows the recovery of the body of soldier Oron Shaoul, 21, in January, who also died in Gaza in 2014 and was subsequently buried in Israel. For years, Israeli authorities and Hamas engaged in indirect negotiations aimed at recovering the remains of Goldin and Shaoul, with potential exchanges of Palestinian prisoners discussed as part of the process.
Part of a Broader Hostage Release Agreement
The return of Goldin’s remains is occurring within the framework of a ceasefire agreement enacted on October 10. This agreement has seen Hamas return the bodies of 24 of the 28 deceased Israelis they had been holding. In addition to the recovered remains, Hamas has also freed the last 20 live hostages captured during the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. Three Israelis and one Thai citizen, also killed during that attack, remain to be repatriated under the terms of the agreement.
https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1723879999999999999
The Israel Defense Forces shared a statement on November 9, 2025, commemorating the return of Lt. Hadar Goldin and reaffirming their commitment to bringing all hostages home.
Israel Demands Full Compliance
From Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a firm statement demanding that Hamas “fulfill its commitments” and return all remaining bodies. “We will not compromise on this point and will spare no effort until we bring back all the hostages, down to the last one,” the government affirmed.
The exchange has involved a significant concession from Israel, which has freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each deceased Israeli hostage. The ongoing process underscores the complex and sensitive nature of negotiations surrounding hostages and remains in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Today, after over a decade, Hadar’s body has been returned for proper burial in Israel. As a senior official stated, “This is a bittersweet moment, offering closure to a family who has endured unimaginable pain, but also a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict.”
