At Goldin memorial, Ya’alon vows to bring bodies of soldiers home
Hundreds gather at cemetery to mourn fallen soldier; defense minister says 'we will not rest' until remains recovered
Hundreds of people gathered at the Kfar Saba military cemetery on Tuesday to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of Lt. Hadar Goldin, with the slain soldier’s father and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon vowing that Goldin’s remains — and the remains of fellow IDF soldier Oron Shaul — would be brought home to Israel for burial.
Goldin was killed in a Gaza tunnel attack in Rafah on August 1 during last summer’s Operation Protective Edge, and his body was dragged into a tunnel by Hamas fighters. The IDF was able to pronounce his death based on forensic evidence retrieved from the tunnel by a fellow soldier.
“I remind you that the IDF left two bodies in Gaza and Rafah,” said Simcha Goldin at his son’s memorial. “In the name of the sacred treaty between the state and parents, I promise that we will bring his body [home].”
Goldin said that after his son’s death, the family discovered a note scribbled by Hadar that said: “Do not rejoice for me because I fell, to immortalize myself and lead myself, so that I will be able to and be worthy of leading others. To be Israeli, to be an Israeli fighter, to be an Israeli dreamer, to be a dreaming fighter.”
Speaking at the memorial, Ya’alon — who is a relative of the Goldins — vowed to retrieve Goldin and Shaul’s remains from Gaza.
“We remember Hadar today, but we also must not forget Oron Shaul, who did not return to his family,” Ya’alon said. “We as a government, and I as defense minister are committed to doing everything to bring Oron and Hadar to Israel. We will not rest until we do this.”
Shaul was killed in Shejaiya in last summer’s conflict, and his body is believed to be in Hamas’s hands.
Also addressing the crowd was Goldin’s fiancée, Edna Serusi.
“My love, a year has already passed and have not managed to process what happened here,” she said. “This past year was crazy and difficult. It taught me a lot about myself and you, I discovered how much my soul is tied to yours. I don’t know how I will get through my entire life without you, I miss you. Thank you for your unconditional love, which will never subside.”