US Muslim leaders to Hamas: Release bodies of Israeli soldiers

2 congressmen among group of 10 calling on terror group’s chief Khaled Mashaal to allow Goldin, Shaul families to bury their sons

WASHINGTON — A slate of 10 American Muslim leaders, including two Muslim Congress members, have urged Hamas to return the remains of two IDF soldiers to Israel.

“In the name of Almighty God the most merciful and compassionate, we appeal to you on the basis of humanity and charity to release the remains of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, two Israeli soldiers killed in action, to their families,” said the letter sent September 21 to Khaled Mashaal, one of the leaders of the terrorist group controlling the Gaza Strip.

Signatories include Reps. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and Andre Carson, D-Ind., respectively the first and second Muslims elected to Congress; M. Ali Chaudry, the former mayor of Basking Ridge, New Jersey; Sayyid Syeed, the director of interfaith alliances at the Islamic Society of North America; and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who directed an unsuccessful and controversial effort to build an Islamic community center near the site of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York.

“Both Israelis and Palestinians have felt the pain of war, of losing loved ones and children far too soon,” the letter said. “The Holy Quran reminds us that ‘whoever pardons and makes reconciliation will receive his reward from Allah.’ We ask you to act upon these words and allow the Goldin and Shaul families to bury their loved ones.”

Simcha and Leah Goldin have embarked on a campaign to retrieve the body of their soldier son Hadar from Gaza, where he was killed on August 1, 2014. (Ben Sales)

Shaul and Goldin were killed two years ago during the summer 2014 war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, known in Israel as Operation Protective Edge.

Rabbi Marc Schneier, the president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, initiated the letter. He made it public on Sunday at the annual Washington conference of the Israeli-American Council, where Goldin’s parents were in attendance.

“Here, in the presence of the Goldin family, I am proud to share that many of the most prominent leaders of America’s Muslim community have joined their humanitarian campaign,” Schneier said. “We are hopeful that these voices can make an impact in bringing Hadar and Oron home.”

Israeli-American Council CEO Shaul Nicolet praised the Foundation “for taking a leadership role in this campaign to bring Israel’s boys home.”

Zehava Shaul, shown with her late husband Herzl, has been seeking answers about the fate of her son since he was captured by Hamas on July 20, 2014 in Gaza City. (JTA/Ben Sales)

Goldin’s parents last week opened an exhibition of their son’s artwork at United Nations headquarters in New York in a bid to raise awareness about their quest to recover their son’s remains.

Shaul’s father, Herzl, died on September 2, from intestinal cancer.