At Herzl Shaul’s burial, PM vows to return his son’s remains
Oron Shaul’s brother says his father died of ‘grief and regret’ after mourning the son he lost in Gaza in 2014
Herzl Shaul, the father of a soldier whose remains are held by Hamas in Gaza, was laid to rest Sunday at a funeral in northern Israel attended by the prime minister, president, IDF chief of staff and other Israeli dignitaries.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot both vowed to carry on efforts to ensure the return of Sgt. Oron Shaul’s remains from Hamas custody.
“I came here to look you in the eyes and tell you: My commitment, [and] those of the government of Israel, of the IDF, of the State of Israel — our commitment is to bring Oron home,” Netanyahu said at the funeral in Poria Ilit, overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
Eisenkot, in turn, called the father, who died last week from cancer, “an exemplary family man” and promised to bring Shaul and Lt. Hadar Goldin, whose body is also held by Hamas, back to Israel for burial.
The two soldiers were killed in the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and have been held by the Palestinian group since.
“I guarantee that the IDF will continue to support you and fulfill the will of Herzl,” he said.
Aviram Shaul, the son, said his father died “from grief and regret, regret over sitting shiva for Oron,” mourning his son as dead. “I have no doubt that this broke you. I know it’s just because of that.”
The Shaul family has for months been holding daily vigils outside Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem, calling for the government to bring Oron’s body home.
Upon news of Herzl Shaul’s death over the weekend, Moshe Ya’alon, who was defense minister during the 2014 war, called him “a gallant man, humane and exceptional, who together with his wife Zehava built a model home and raised three children to contribute to the State of Israel. Painful circumstances brought us together two years ago, and since then we have been in close contact, even on days when his cancer tormented him. Herzl was a special man and each meeting and conversation with him showed the reserves of human strength he possessed.”
The Shaul family has “lost its supporting pillar two years after the fall of Oron. We will continue to embrace Zehava, Aviram and Ofek with love,” Ya’alon said.
“The State of Israel will not give up until it returns Oron and Hadar to burial in Israel,” he said. “This is Israel’s commitment to the sons and the families. This is our commitment to Herzl. This is also my personal commitment.”
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman also vowed to realize Shaul’s wish to see Oron buried in Israel.
“The Defense Ministry and the people of Israel bow their heads in sorrow at the death of Herzl, of blessed memory,” Liberman said.
“I met with Herzl about a month ago. [He] did everything in his power to return his late son Oron, and I am saddened he did not achieve this before he died. The Israeli government is committed to returning the bodies of Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul and Lieutenant Hadar Goldin of blessed memory and bringing them to Israel for burial.”
Liberman’s office told The Times of Israel last week that he is opposed to negotiations with Hamas for the return of Goldin and Shaul’s bodies.
The Times of Israel Community.