Hamas Claims it Will Return Hadar Goldin’s Remains from Hamas on at 2 P.M. Today

Israel is preparing to receive the remains of fallen IDF officer Hadar Goldin at 2 p.m. Sunday, security officials said. Hamas claimed that its search teams found Goldin’s body Saturday afternoon in a tunnel path in an area of Rafah and would hand it over to the Red Cross for transfer to Israel.

According to information passed from Hamas to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the group is expected to deliver Goldin’s remains near 2 p.m. Gaza time. The IDF confirmed that forces are preparing to receive the fallen soldier in Gaza around 3 p.m. A short salute ceremony will take place at the site before the remains are transported under secure escort to the National Forensic Institute for DNA identification.

A senior Israeli official said the government views “with great severity” the delay in the return of Goldin’s body, which Hamas had claimed to have located a day earlier. “Israel demands his immediate return,” the official said. Hamas responded that retrieving the remaining bodies “requires more teams and technical equipment.” 

Goldin, who was killed in action during the 2014 war in Gaza, had been held by Hamas for more than 11 years. His family said in a statement: “An entire country is waiting for Hadar to be returned to us. The chief of staff arrived at the end of Shabbat to update us on the tremendous efforts to free the hostages, and we salute everyone involved in this national mission.”

The announcement came as fighting continued in the Rafah area surrounding the 200 trapped terrorists. Hamas said its members were “defending themselves within territory under enemy control,” warning that “the concept of surrender does not exist in the dictionary of the al-Qassam Brigades.” The group urged mediators to find a solution that would “ensure the continuation of the ceasefire.”

Five deceased hostages remain in Gaza: Meny Godard, 73, Hadar Goldin, 23, Ran Gvili, 24, Dror Or, 48, Sudthisak Rinthalak, 43.