After 11 years in captivity, the body of Hadar Goldin was laid to rest on Tuesday, November 11th, 2025. His body was returned to Israel from Gaza on November 9, 2025. Part of the Givati Brigade, soldier Lt. Hadar Goldin was known to be a leader. His body was returned and identified on Israeli soil, allowing his family to finally begin the mourning process.
Goldin was captured and killed during a ceasefire on August 1, 2014, during the summer 2014 war with Gaza, also known as Operation Protective Edge. He was killed and taken during a Hamas ambush in the strip.
For years, the Goldin family was the global voice campaigning for the release of Hadar’s body, along with the body of fellow soldier Oron Shaul, who also fell in that same war, and the release of hostages Avera Mengistu, who was abducted in 2014, and Hisham Al Sayed, who was abducted in 2015. The mission only became greater after the October 7, 2023 attacks, in which Hadar was included along with the 251 individuals who were abducted that day.
Still, as several living and dead hostages returned home, including Shaul, Mengistu, and Al Sayed, the Goldin family waited through a long two additional years with no time estimate for their son’s return. He was the fifth to last hostage to be released after October 7, and the final casualty from the 2014 war to come home.
His parents and siblings, his commander, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and singer and actor Idan Amedi, all gave eulogies and shared fond memories of Goldin. Some wore t-shirts with his image. They also held the Israeli government accountable wondering why it took an extraordinarily long time for Hadar to come home.
Sam Grundweg, the World Chairman of Keren Hayesod, spoke of the hard work his parents put in to bring Hadar home and shared how he worked with them through various capacities, both as the former Consul General from Israel to Los Angeles and also in his role with Keren Hayesod, a major fundraising platform which helps Israel build and grow.
Grundweg shared that his relationship with the Goldin family started from the very beginning of their journey to bring back Hadar.
“We can’t even begin the process of mourning until we bring Hadar to proper burial.” That is what Hadar’s mother, Leah, first told Grundweg 11 years ago. “Unfortunately, we all understand that as a nation now after October 7,” he continued.
In his eulogy, Hadar’s father, Simcha, called on those present to lead by Hadar’s example by looking for the best in others and acting decently towards them.
Otzma Yehudit party member Yitzhak Kroizer, who chairs the Knesset’s Environmental Committee, was also in attendance, and as a family friend of the Goldin’s and as a neighbor of Hadar’s sister, Ayelet.
“They’re a brave family. They fought for 11 years to bring Hadar back here to Israel. We appreciate all that they’ve done for the state of Israel, for the soldiers, for their son, and all the family choose how they can fight for their own values and what they think is the correct way to bring Hadar back home.”
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