Goldin family: Put pressure on Hamas for Hadar’s return

The family of Lt. Hadar Goldin, who died in fighting in Gaza in 2014 and whose body is still held by Hamas, blasts the government for failing to take strident action against Hamas for the return of the his body and that of fellow soldier Oron Shaul.

“We have felt for many long months now that the January cabinet decision calling for pressure to be put on Hamas was hollow and declarative only,” the family is quoted as saying in Hebrew media outlets. “The High Court decision will only increase the pressure on [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and cabinet ministers to get up out of their seats, roll up their sleeves and start to work for the return of Hadar and Oron to Israel.”

The statement follows a High Court decision earlier this evening that gives the state six months to either return the bodies of fallen terrorists or pass new laws permitting it to hold the bodies as bargaining chips.

The family “is sick of talk and empty decisions. The time has come for deeds, for effective pressure.”