IDF says there’s no intel to suggest that Hadar Goldin’s body is held in a tunnel under Rafah

The IDF says it has no information indicating that the body of Lt. Hadar Goldin is being held in a tunnel where Hamas operatives are holed up in southern Gaza’s Rafah.

“These are false claims that harm the family,” the military says, after defense officials claimed that Goldin’s body is assessed to be held in southern Gaza’s Rafah, where some 150 terror operatives are holed up in a tunnel network.

Some of the operatives trapped in Rafah are assessed by Israel to have information on the location of the body, which may be hidden at another location in the area.

The US has been pressuring Israel to permit safe passage for the estimated 200 operatives who are trapped in the IDF-held area of southern Gaza, as part of efforts to advance to the next stage of the emerging ceasefire framework based on Trump’s plan.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir recommended to political officials earlier this week that Israel should condition the safe passage of the operatives from Rafah to Hamas-held areas of the Strip on the return of Goldin’s body.

However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel will not allow them safe passage.