Israel Mourns as Soldier’s Body Returned After 11 Years in Gaza

Tens of thousands gathered in central 🇮🇱Israel on Tuesday for the ⚰️Funeral of Lt. Hadar Goldin, an 🪖Israeli Soldier whose body was held in Gaza for more than a decade.

According to The Associated Press, the massive crowds spilled into surrounding streets, waving Israeli flags and standing in silence as Goldin was finally laid to rest.

Hamas returned Goldin’s remains on Sunday as part of the Trump-brokered ceasefire deal that began last month. His return brought an emotional end to an 11-year campaign led by his family, who had traveled the world demanding that his body be brought home.

“Hadar, we waited for you 11 years, that’s a long time. A very long time. I honestly can’t explain how we did it,” his mother, Leah Goldin, said beside his grave. “I still believed you would jump up and say ‘Everything is fine!’”

Goldin, 23, was killed in August 2014 — just two hours after a ceasefire took effect during the war between 🇮🇱Israel and Hamas. Evidence found in the tunnel where his body was taken, including a blood-soaked shirt and prayer fringes, confirmed his death.