Israeli officials confirmed that remains returned by Hamas were those of Lt. Hadar Goldin, killed in August 2014 during operations against Gaza tunnels. Forensic teams verified the identity, making this the 24th set of remains repatriated under the ceasefire that began on October 10, 2023. The handover provided closure for family and comrades, even as displaced Gazans voiced ongoing concerns about reconstruction and the next phase of the truce. The exchange forms part of broader ceasefire arrangements that included the release of living hostages and the freeing of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.
Israel Confirms Remains Returned by Hamas Are Lt. Hadar Goldin’s — 24th Set Repatriated Under Ceasefire
Israeli officials confirmed that remains returned by Hamas were those of Lt. Hadar Goldin, killed in August 2014 during operations against Gaza tunnels. Forensic teams verified the identity, making this the 24th set of remains repatriated under the ceasefire that began on October 10, 2023. The handover provided closure for family and comrades, even as displaced Gazans voiced ongoing concerns about reconstruction and the next phase of the truce. The exchange forms part of broader ceasefire arrangements that included the release of living hostages and the freeing of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.
03:35, 10.11.2025Conflict
Israel confirms remains returned by Hamas are those of Lt. Hadar Goldin
Israeli authorities said on Sunday that forensic experts have verified the remains handed over by Hamas are those of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, an officer killed during operations against Gaza tunnels in August 2014. The handover is the 24th set of remains returned under the ceasefire that began on October 10, 2023.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said specialists positively identified the remains. In a video posted on X, Netanyahu held a photograph of Goldin and said the country had finally brought him back to his parents and family to be buried.
"It's a relief. It's time for this family to finally be able to mourn," said Judith Touati of Ramla, speaking to AFP. Goldin's father, Simcha Goldin, emphasized that Israel's victory would only be complete once all hostages were returned.
Friends and former comrades gathered at the forensic centre in Israel where the remains were examined. Rachel Zinkin, a family friend, told AFP the identification would provide closure for both the family and Israeli society.
Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, said it handed over the remains after finding them in a tunnel in Rafah. Goldin, 23 at the time, was killed on August 1, 2014, while part of a unit assigned to locate and destroy Hamas tunnels; Israeli officials say he was killed in an ambush and militants dragged his body into the tunnel.
Parts of his body were recovered shortly after the incident and the family held a funeral in Kfar Saba that month. Previous attempts to recover his remains through prisoner-exchange negotiations were unsuccessful.
Ceasefire exchanges and wider context
The handover comes amid ceasefire exchanges: Hamas has released all surviving hostages and returned 24 sets of remains, while Israel has freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned the bodies of hundreds killed in Gaza. Four sets of remains—three Israeli and one Thai—are still reported to be held in Gaza from the October 2023 attacks.
The October 2023 assault by Hamas resulted in 1,221 deaths on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Gaza's health ministry reports that Israel's military response has killed 69,176 Palestinians, also predominantly civilians; the ministry's figures are generally considered reliable by the UN, though they do not distinguish fighters from civilians.
Voices on the ground
Reactions among Gazans were mixed. Displaced resident Samah Deeb told AFP she still felt "like hostages to the situation" and expressed concern about proposed disarmament and governance arrangements. Another displaced resident, Mohammed Zamlout, urged Israel's withdrawal, reconstruction of homes, and the restoration of services and schooling.
The identification of Goldin's remains closes an 11-year chapter for his family and carries symbolic weight in Israel, where the military ethos of leaving no soldier behind remains a deeply held national value.