Disgraceful
Turkey Pressured Hamas Not to Return Hadar Goldin's Body
Turkey is no friend of ours, and their latest tricks are no surprise. It's no wonder we won't let Turkish soldiers anywhere near Gaza.
In a newly revealed diplomatic maneuver, Turkish officials attempted to influence Hamas by tying the release of the remains of Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin to a resolution for trapped terrorists in the so-called "Rafah Pocket," according to a source familiar with the matter.
The revelation, first reported on Kan News' "This Morning" program, highlights ongoing tensions in Gaza amid Israel's military operations.
The source indicated that Turkey sought to leverage the predicament of the son of senior Hamas official Razi Hamed, who was among terrorists barricaded in an underground tunnel in the Jneina neighborhood of eastern Rafah.
A media outlet affiliated with Hamas reported yesterday that Hamed's son was killed during the Israeli siege on the tunnel, though independent verification remains unavailable.
Goldin, an IDF lieutenant, was killed during the 2014 Gaza conflict, and his body has been held by Hamas ever since, becoming a focal point in hostage negotiations.
Turkey's intervention aimed to condition his return on easing the siege in the "Rafah Pocket" - a fortified enclave beyond Israel's designated "yellow line" where dozens of Hamas fighters have been holed up in subterranean networks for weeks. Israeli forces from the Golani and Nahal Brigades have intensified operations in the area, which falls under Israeli control.
About a week and a half ago, 17 terrorists attempted to break out from the tunnels. Eleven were neutralized in the ensuing clash, while six were captured and transferred to Shin Bet for interrogation.
The detainees described dire conditions underground, including dwindling food supplies and casualties from IDF engineering efforts to breach the tunnels. "The food is almost gone, and some of our comrades were killed in the operations to break in," one account from the interrogations revealed, showing the mounting pressure on the remaining holdouts.
This development comes amid broader regional dynamics, with Turkey positioning itself as a mediator in Palestinian affairs while maintaining ties to Hamas leadership. Israeli officials have not publicly commented on the report, but it adds another layer to the stalled talks over hostages and ceasefires in Gaza.
The "Rafah Pocket" has emerged as a stubborn flashpoint in Israel's campaign against Hamas infrastructure, with military analysts noting its strategic importance in disrupting cross-border smuggling routes. As operations continue, the fate of any remaining terrorists, and potential repercussions, remains uncertain.