Family of fallen soldier threatens legal steps to secure return of son’s body

The family of a fallen IDF soldier whose body is being held by Hamas called on the government to increase pressure on the terror group to force the release of their son’s remains, threatening to turn to the High Court of Justice if the government fails to do so.

In a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, the Goldin family accused the government of not carrying out a number of cabinet decisions meant to press Hamas, such as limiting family visits to Hamas prisoners.

“Even though these decisions were made a few months ago, based on the information that our clients have received, practically nothing has been done on this matter, and the decisions remain as empty words,” the family’s lawyers said.

The lawyers said that the family expects the government to take action “to return fallen IDF soldiers to their homeland and a grave in Israel.”

Hadar Goldin’s body, as well as that of fellow IDF soldier Oron Shaul’s, have been held by Hamas since they were killed in the Gaza Strip during 2014’s Operation Protective Edge. The terror group is also believed to be holding three Israeli citizens — Avraham Abera Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayed and Juma Ibrahim Abu Ghanima — who are all said to have entered the Gaza Strip of their own accord.

The family’s lawyers also wrote that they would turn to the High Court of Justice if they do not receive a response soon.

“If we don’t receive a sufficient answer to our letter in 10 days, we will recommend to our clients to turn to the High Court of Justice.”

In response to the letter, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that Netanyahu has worked to keep the Goldin family apprised of actions being taken to secure their son’s release.

“The prime minister and his representatives on the matter are working all the time…to complete the task of bringing the boys home,” the PMO said.

Liberman’s office also said that the defense minister is working relentlessly to secure the release of Goldin’s body.

“The minister intensively follows after [the work of] the teams dealing with the issue, and the matter is one of the main issues permanently on his desk,” Liberman’s office told Channel 10.

The letter from the Goldin family’s lawyers came after Hadar’s father Simcha Goldin accused Liberman last month of abandoning his son’s remains in Gaza.

As part of the efforts to return the bodies of Shaul and Goldin, Israel has reportedly been holding indirect talks with Hamas about a possible prisoner deal.

While Israel has played down the reports of progress in the Egyptian-mediated negotiations for a prisoner swap, an unnamed Palestinian source told the London-based Arabic-language Al-Hiyat newspaper in July that negotiations have “come a long way.”

At a memorial in July marking three years since the 2014 Gaza conflict, Netanyahu hinted of recently increased Israeli efforts to return the Israeli citizens and the bodies of IDF soldiers being held by Hamas.

“Our commitment to return home Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul is still firm. We have not let up from this sacred mission, in particular in recent days. The same applies to Avraham Abera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, Israeli citizens who are held in the Gaza Strip by a brutal enemy,” he said, failing to mention Abu Ghanima, the third Israeli civilian held by Hamas.

President Reuven Rivlin also stressed at the event at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl military cemetery that Israel would not cease working for the return of Shaul and Goldin’s bodies, saying it “is our moral and public obligation.”

Since the capture of their sons’ bodies, the Shaul and Goldin families have waged public campaigns for their return, with the Goldins recently releasing a video urging the government to up its pressure on Hamas until the two soldiers’ bodies are returned.