Sister of IDF soldier abducted by Hamas in 2014 insists all Gaza hostages be included in negotiations

Ayelet Goldin, the sister of Hadar Goldin, an IDF soldier who was abducted and killed by Hamas during the Hamas-Israel war in 2014, told local Israeli 103FM radio that her deceased brother’s body should be included in the international negotiations regarding the more than 200 Israeli and foreign nationals currently being held hostage by the Hamas terror organization in Gaza.

The U.S. government is expected to negotiate the release of the hostage via Qatar, the Gulf state where much of the Hamas political leadership resides.

Hamas, in flagrant violation of international law, has refused to hand over Goldin’s body to his family for a proper burial in Israel for nearly a decade.

"We fight fiercely for all those taken captive, ensuring that what happened to us will not befall others," Ayelet Goldin told radio program hosts Anat Davidov and Udi Segal.

Goldin stressed that her wounded brother was abducted after Hamas violated a ceasefire officially guaranteed by Washington.

“My little brother, Lt. Hadar Goldin, an exceptional officer, was kidnapped while a ceasefire was in place during “Protective Edge” when Hamas violated the ceasefire despite the U.S. guarantee,” Goldin recalled.

Goldin's sister blasted the State of Israel for failing to secure the return of her deceased brother’s body to Israel.

“Hadar was wounded and taken to a hospital in Gaza, but (former Chief of Staff Benny) Gantz halted the military operation to retrieve my wounded brother. Since then, we have been living in captivity for nine years. We know exactly where Hadar is, and we are a close-knit family. The abductees’ families have been subjected to legal proceedings, and this failure by the State of Israel is a glaring example.”

Prior to the recent kidnapping of more than 200 Israeli and international nations, Hamas held the bodies of IDF soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul. In addition, Hamas also previously held captured Israeli civilians Hisham Al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu.

In June 2021, Yaron Blum, the Israeli government’s chief negotiator on Israeli hostages, said the State of Israel was aware of the difficult situation concerning the Israelis held in Gaza.

“Israel is well aware of the situation of the boys, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, of blessed memory, and of the two civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham Al-Sayed, who crossed the border while they were still alive,” Blum said.

“Israel will continue to act with determination and responsibility to bring back the boys and the civilians,” he added.

In December 2022, Pope Francis met with the families of the Israeli hostages at the Vatican and pledged to assist in bringing the captured Israelis back to the Jewish state.

The Pope reportedly expressed solidarity with the families and especially with the mothers of the Israeli captives.

At the time, Israel's Foreign Ministry said the Pope would assist by working with governments and religious leaders.

“The Pope promised to work with governments and religious leaders, including Muslim leaders, to bring back the sons,” stated the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.

However, as of now, October 25, 2023, the Jewish state is instead facing a much worse and more complex hostage situation with over 200 Israelis and foreign nationals currently being held by Hamas in Gaza.