Wanting back the remains of their killed son in order to have a proper Jewish burial, the parents of slain Israel Defense Forces Lt. Hadar Goldin slammed the chance of a ceasefire with the terrorist group Hamas by either the United States, the European Union or Israel without the return of remains being held by Hamas.
Goldin was killed in August 2014 during a ceasefire from “Operation Protective Edge,” when the IDF went into Gaza to eliminate missile-launching sites and terror tunnels. The ceasefire—brokered by the United Nations and the United States, and agreed to by both Israel and Hamas—was violated by the latter in its attempt to kidnap and murder Israeli soldiers who were complying with it.
“How on earth can there be an agreement with Hamas for the rebuilding of Gaza without these critical issues being resolved,” Leah Goldin said while asking for her son’s remains. “If Gaza expects humanitarian aid from the international community, then Hamas must respect International Humanitarian Laws and principles, which require adherence to ceasefire agreements and the repatriation of combatants killed in action.”
“The return of our soldiers and the release of Israeli civilians also being held as hostages are a minimum confidence-building step that should precede any agreement,” stated Goldin. “Moreover, there is a window of opportunity here that will shut if there is an agreement without ensuring the release of our prisoners and repatriation of our war dead.”
Members of both the United Nations and the European Union have acknowledged that the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, which controls Gaza, must follow International Humanitarian Laws in order to receive humanitarian aid, and therefore must return both Goldin and Shaul’s remains immediately.
