Hadar Goldins' Remains Being Held in Tunnel Barricaded by 150 Hamas Terrorists as IDF Halts Operations

Israeli defense officials now believe the body of abducted fallen soldier, Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, is being held in a tunnel beneath Rafah, where approximately 150 Hamas terrorists are currently barricaded. This critical intelligence assessment is the reason the IDF has refrained from conducting airstrikes or using explosives against the tunnel network, according to information authorized for publication today.

The assessment concerning Goldin, who was kidnapped during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, underscores the extreme operational challenge facing the IDF in Rafah.

Chief of Staff's Demand: No Release Without Goldin

The revelation regarding Goldin's remains follows a determined stance taken by the IDF Chief of Staff, Major General Eyal Zamir.

Speaking to decision-makers in recent days, the Chief of Staff conveyed an unequivocal position on dealing with Hamas terrorists in the southern Gaza Strip: "It is forbidden to allow any terrorist to leave alive without the return of Hadar Goldin." The Chief of Staff further clarified: "No terrorist will leave Rafah alive. I am willing to consider the release of terrorists only on one condition, the return of Hadar Goldin."

This strong statement came after an initial report suggested that Israel was considering allowing approximately 200 terrorists trapped in areas under IDF control to cross into Hamas-controlled territory, provided they disarmed. This proposal immediately sparked outrage in the political sphere, leading the Prime Minister's Office to announce that the terrorists would ultimately remain within Israeli-controlled areas.

Hostage Returns and Remaining Bodies

The update on Goldin's location comes as the exchange of deceased hostages continues in small increments.

The return of the bodies of murdered hostages remains a key, agonizing issue. Early Wednesday morning, the body of Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, who was killed and abducted during the October 7 massacre, was returned to Israel. Chen fought valiantly alongside his comrades in the tank crew. His fellow crew member, Sergeant Tomer Leibovitch, was also killed in the battle, while Captain Daniel Peretz was returned for burial earlier, and Sergeant Matan Angrest was released alive after over two years in captivity. Itay is survived by his parents, Ruby and Hagit, and two brothers, Roi and Alon.

Hamas also announced tonight (Wednesday) that it will hand over another body of a hostage found in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza at 9:00 PM.

Despite these small returns, the Hamas terrorist organization still holds the bodies of seven murdered hostages: Hadar Goldin, who was abducted in 2014, and six others killed during the October 7 attack.