Israel Thousands attend funeral of abducted soldier Goldin
Thousands of Israelis took part in the funeral of soldier Hadar Goldin, whose body was returned more than eleven years after he was abducted by Hamas.
11.11.2025, 13:11
SDA
"We waited for you for eleven years," said his mother Lea Goldin at the funeral, according to the news portal "ynet". "I have always loved you, Hadar, rest in peace."
In the years since his abduction in the Gaza Strip, the parents had repeatedly accused the government of right-wing conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of abandoning their son.
Goldin, a 23-year-old officer with the rank of lieutenant at the time, was killed in an attack by Hamas fighters on August 1, 2014 during a ceasefire in the Gaza war at the time and abducted to the Gaza Strip. His body had been kept in the sealed-off coastal area ever since. The family had held a funeral service in August 2014, although his remains were still in Gaza at the time. Hamas then handed over the body on Sunday as part of the ceasefire in the latest Gaza war.
In return, Israel transferred the bodies of 15 Palestinians to the Gaza Strip. This means that 315 Palestinian bodies have been transferred since the ceasefire began a month ago.
The ceasefire agreement reached in October requires Hamas to hand over the mortal remains of a total of 28 hostages killed to Israel. There are now four hostages' bodies still in the Gaza Strip, including a Thai national.
