Hamas has been active long before October 7, 2023 – the terror group was founded in 1987. The Times of Israel reports that the latest hostage body returned this past weekend was identified as Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was killed and taken by Hamas in 2014. Goldin had been missing for 11 years after the terror group attacked Rafah during a humanitarian ceasefire.
At 9:05 a.m. on August 1, 2014, just over an hour after the start of a 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire during the 2014 Gaza war, Hamas gunmen emerged from a tunnel in the southeastern part of Rafah and attacked troops of the Givati Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, killing three soldiers, including Goldin — whose body was dragged into the tunnel by the operatives.
Upon his return, Goldin’s sister Ayelet wrote on social media, “How do I feel? I don’t know yet. But I do know that what strengthens me is that we remained true to our truth — to our Israeli values. My Hadar — you are my inspiration. And you live in my heart always, and I love you very much. And finally, you’ve come home.”
Goldin was 23 at the time of his death and is remembered as a brother, musician, artist, and counselor due to his work in the Bnei Akiva youth movement. Because of his work with youth, several educational initiatives were established in his memory. These programs carry forward the values of unity, leadership, and moral integrity, which Goldin has come to symbolize. He had also proposed to his fiancée months before he was killed and was in the process of planning the wedding.
Israeli leadership, like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Issac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and several others reacted to the news, reaffirming that Goldin was truly a hero of Israel and praising his family’s tireless struggle to make sure he was brought home.
