וְשָׁבוּ בָנִים לִגְבוּלָם – After 11 Years: Lt. Hadar Goldin Hy”d, Identified After Returning to Israel

After over a decade of painful waiting, the body of Israeli officer Lt. Hadar Goldin Hy”d, killed and abducted by Hamas terrorists during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, was officially identified at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute after being transferred to Israel Sunday.

Hadar’s friends tell Channel 14 after his return: Hadar was “a special and positive person who always acted for others — we were privileged to know him and his family.”

The Health Ministry announced that the casket believed to contain Hadar had arrived at Abu Kabir just hours before he was identified, even though the Ministry cautioned that the verification process could take up to two days.

Hadar was 23 years old  when he was killed. He left behind his parents, a sister, two brothers, and his fiancée.

The IDF released a statement, saying: “The effort to retrieve him involved extensive intelligence efforts, alongside operational activities on the ground, led by the IDF and ISA. These efforts continued throughout the past decade and during the war.

“The IDF expresses deep condolences to the family and continues to make every effort to return all the deceased hostages and is prepared for the continued implementation of the agreement.”

After Hadar’s return, the total number of murdered hostages held by the terrorists stands at four: Meny Godard Hy’d, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili Hy’d, Dror Or Hy’d, and Sudthisak Rinthalak.

The Health Ministry extended its “deep condolences to the bereaved families and shares in their pain as their loved ones are brought to burial in Israel.” The ministry also urged the public and media to respect the families’ privacy, avoid speculation, and “rely solely on official information sources.”

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office read: “After completing the identification process by the National Center for Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of the deceased abductee, Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, that their loved one had been returned to Israel and his identification had been completed.”

“The Israeli government shares the deep sorrow of the Goldin family and all the families of the deceased abductees.”

“The government and the entire Israeli Defense Forces are determined, committed and working tirelessly to return all of our deceased abductees for a proper burial in their country.”

“The Hamas terrorist organization is required to fulfill its commitments to the mediators and return them within the framework of implementing the agreement. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the abductees, down to the last one.”