Deaths and ransoming of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin

{{Infobox person

| name = Oron Shaul

| native_name = אורון שאול

| native_name_lang = he

| birth_place = Israel

| death_date = July 2014

| death_place = Shuja'iyya, Gaza Strip, Palestine

| occupation = Soldier

| body_discovered = January 18, 2025

| resting_place = Poria Illit, Israel

}}

During the Battle of Shuja'iyya on July 20, 2014, Hamas fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF armored personnel carrier carrying 7 soldiers, including Oron Shaul.{{cite news|last1=Harel|first1=Amos|title=Soldiers killed in Gaza were deployed in 50-year-old APC|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.606238|access-date=15 October 2014|publisher=Haaretz|date=20 July 2014}} Hamas rapidly claimed to have captured an IDF soldier named Aron Shaul, backing up its claim with the soldier's "photo ID and credentials".{{cite news|last1=Plesser|first1=Ben|title=Israel Hunts Remains of Missing Soldier Sgt. Oron Shaul|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/middle-east-unrest/israel-hunts-remains-missing-soldier-sgt-oron-shaul-n162036|access-date=15 October 2014|publisher=NBC|date=22 July 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Lynfield|first1=Ben|title=Israel-Gaza conflict: Israeli military names soldier Oron Shaul confirmed as 'missing' after Hamas celebrates alleged kidnap|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelgaza-conflict-israel-confirms-soldier-missing-after-hamas-celebrates-alleged-kidnap-9620261.html|access-date=15 October 2014|work=The Independent|date=22 July 2014}}[http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=714871 'Hamas says it has captured Israeli soldier in Gaza'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119075955/http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=714871 |date=2014-11-19 }}Ma'an News Agency 20 July 2014. On July 21, Ron Prosor, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, denied the capture, saying "There is no kidnapped Israeli soldier and those rumors are untrue".{{cite news |title=Israel denies capture of soldier in Gaza |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2014/7/21/israel-denies-capture-of-soldier-in-gaza |work=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Israel's UN envoy denies Israeli soldier abducted by Hamas |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/106725/World/Region/Israels-UN-envoy-denies-Israeli-soldier-abducted-b.aspx |work=Al-Ahram |date=21 Jul 2014}}

The IDF later confirmed that the body of Oron Shaul had not been identified among the dead found inside the vehicle.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-israel-idUSKBN0FP00U20140722|title=Israel says soldier missing, presumed dead; Kerry presses for truce|publisher=Reuters}}{{cite news|last1=Ginsberg|first1=Mitch|title=Golani soldier Oron Shaul caught in Gaza ambush is MIA|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/golani-soldier-caught-in-gaza-ambush-is-likely-mia/|access-date=15 October 2014|publisher=Times of Israel|date=22 July 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Raghavan|first1=Sudarsan|title=Missing Israeli soldier, canceled flights could shift dynamic of Gaza conflict|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hamas-may-have-captured-israeli-soldier/2014/07/22/dfb18de2-1170-11e4-98ee-daea85133bc9_story.html|access-date=15 October 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=22 July 2014}} Shaul's fate was the focus of great concern during the short period when it was feared that he had been taken captive, because, according to the Associated Press, "In the past, Israel has paid a heavy price in lopsided prisoner swaps to retrieve captured soldiers or remains held by its enemies."{{cite news|last1=Goldenberg|first1=TIA|title=Missing soldier feared to be Hamas prisoner — a nightmare scenario for Israel amid international push for truce|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/22/missing-soldier-feared-to-be-hamas-prisoner-a-nightmare-scenario-for-israel-amid-international-push-for-truce/|access-date=15 October 2014|agency=AP|publisher=National Post|date=22 July 2014}} According to The New York Times, "Hamas has recognized the pull such incidents have over the Israeli psyche and clearly has moved to grab hostages.{{cite news|last1=Rudoren|first1=Jodi|title=A Blast, a Fire and an Israeli Soldier Goes Missing|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/23/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-conflict.html|access-date=15 October 2014|work=The New York Times|date=22 July 2014}}

The claim that an Israeli soldier had been captured, "touched off celebrations among Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank", according to The Independent, which ran photos of Palestinians cheering in the streets of Ramallah. According to The New York Times, "Celebrations immediately broke out in Gaza and the West Bank."

Hamas television celebrated the purported kidnapping with a victory mocking the grief of Shaul's family and celebrating the alleged hostage-taking in song: "We've taken a second Shalit, a young, blond-haired boy."{{cite news|last1=PalWatch|title=Hamas song mocks Israeli MIA Oron Shaul|url=http://www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=12150|access-date=15 October 2014|publisher=Palestinian Media Watch|date=23 July 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Levitt|first1=Matthew|title=Hamas is going through a rough patch, so what is it singing about?|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/international/220783-hamas-is-going-through-a-rough-patch-so-what-is-it-singing/|access-date=15 October 2014|work=The Hill|date=15 October 2014}}

By July 22, spokesmen for Israel questioned the claim of capture. On July 25, Israel confirmed that Shaul was killed in action.{{cite news|last1=Cohen|first1=Gili|title=IDF determines Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul, previously considered missing, is dead|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.607236|access-date=15 October 2014|publisher=Haaretz|date=25 July 2014}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Hadar Goldin

| image = Hadar Goldin, 2016.jpg

| caption = August 4, 2016 cover of Bamahane, marking the two year anniversary of Goldin's disappearance

| native_name = הדר גולדין

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1991|02|18}}

| birth_place = Israel

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|08|01|1991|02|18}}

| death_place = Rafah, Palestine

}}

{{Commons category|Hadar Goldin}}

On 1 August during the 2014 Gaza War, Givati Brigade Lieutenant Hadar Goldin reportedly was taking part in an operation to decommission a tunnel belonging to militants.{{Cite web |date=2014-08-02 |title=Israeli 2nd Lt. Hadar Goldin Feared Captured in Gaza: Military |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/middle-east-unrest/israeli-2nd-lt-hadar-goldin-feared-captured-gaza-military-n170276 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=NBC News |language=en}} Hamas militants reportedly emerged from a tunnel and attacked an Israeli patrol in Rafah.{{cite news |date=1 August 2014 |title=IDF: Israeli soldier probably captured |agency=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |url=http://www.jta.org/2014/08/01/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/israeli-soldier-feared-captured-in-gaza-strip-1 |url-status=live |access-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816113307/http://www.jta.org/2014/08/01/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/israeli-soldier-feared-captured-in-gaza-strip-1 |archive-date=16 August 2014 }} Killing two Israeli soldiers, the militants returned to Rafah through a tunnel, bringing the body of Goldin with them.{{cite book |last1=Shapir |first1=Yiftah S. |last2=Perel |first2=Gal |chapter=Subterranean Warfare: A New-Old Challenge |editor-last1=Kurz |editor-first1=Anat |editor-last2=Brom |editor-first2=Shlomo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027153451/https://www.inss.org.il/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/systemfiles/Subterranean%20Warfare_%20A%20New-Old%20Challenge.pdf |archive-date=27 October 2021 |url-status=live |title=The Lessons of Operation Protective Edge |date=2014 |publisher=Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) |page=53 |url=https://www.inss.org.il/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/systemfiles/Subterranean%20Warfare_%20A%20New-Old%20Challenge.pdf}}

The incident occurred during a 72-hour cease-fire that had been announced by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and John Kerry the day before. According the AP the terms of the truce allowed for the continued destruction of the tunnels that were behind Israeli defensive lines and lead into Israel. The Al-Qassam Brigades alleged that the IDF had broken the truce by beginning an incursion, while the IDF claimed Hamas had broken the cease-fire.

Israel at first believed that the militants had abducted Goldin and were holding him, but later determined that he had also been killed.{{cite news |last=Saul |first=Heather |date=1 August 2014 |title=Israeli soldier 'captured in tunnel attack' by Gaza militants |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israeli-soldier-feared-captured-in-tunnel-attack-by-militants-9642469.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050039/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israeli-soldier-feared-captured-in-tunnel-attack-by-militants-9642469.html |archive-date=8 August 2014 }} The IDF Rabbinate later declared Goldin deceased for the purposes of Jewish burial and grieving rituals and buried the remains.{{Cite web|title=Thousands Attend Funeral of Fallen IDF Soldier Hadar Goldin|url=https://forward.com/news/breaking-news/203399/thousands-attend-funeral-of-fallen-idf-soldier-had/|access-date=2022-01-16|website=The Forward|date=3 August 2014 |language=en-US}}

On August 11, 2014 Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon visited the Shaul family to inform them that the government was making every effort to retrieve their son's body from Hamas.{{cite news|last1=Raved|first1=Yahiya|title=Ya'alon tells family: Oron Shaul's body is in Hamas' hands|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4557467,00.html|access-date=15 October 2014|publisher=YnetNews|date=11 August 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Ben Porat|first1=Ido|title=Ya'alon Vows to Recover Body of Oron Shaul|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/183910#.VD6InefXOHk|access-date=15 October 2014|agency=Israel National News|publisher=Arutz Sheva|date=11 August 2014}}

There was coverage of the request for Hamas to return the bodies of Shaul and Goldin in international media through the late summer and early fall of 2014.{{cite news|last1=Kieu|first1=Chu|title=Bản tin 20H: Ukraine buộc tội Nga hỗ trợ miền Đông|url=http://www.tienphong.vn/xa-hoi/ban-tin-20h-ukraine-buoc-toi-nga-ho-tro-mien-dong-765775.tpo|access-date=15 October 2014|publisher=Tienphong|date=30 September 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Aurora |title=Hamás: "Un trato por los cuerpos de los soldados es inminente" |url=http://www.aurora-israel.co.il/articulos/israel/Titular/60527/ |access-date=15 October 2014 |publisher=Aurora |date=1 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221000048/http://www.aurora-israel.co.il/articulos/israel/Titular/60527/ |archive-date=21 December 2014 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.ibtimes.com/israel-agrees-ease-blockade-gaza-strip-reach-hamas-truce-1656380 | title=Israel requested the return of the bodies during ceasefire talks.| website=International Business Times| date=12 August 2014}}{{cite news|last1=TOIstaff|title=At ceasefire talks, Israel to demand return of 2 soldiers' bodies|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/at-ceasefire-talks-israel-to-demand-return-of-2-soldiers-bodies/#ixzz3GE7FsnSg |access-date=15 October 2014|publisher=Times of Israel|date=21 September 2014}} Ongoing negotiations for the exchange of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel for the bodies of the 2 MIAs have been the focus of international press coverage in late 2014.{{cite news|last1=MNA|title=Official: Israel, Hamas to discuss prisoner exchange|url=http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=733197|access-date=15 October 2014|agency=MNA|publisher=Ma'an News Agency|date=14 October 2014|archive-date=30 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141130231419/http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=733197|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=Winer|first1=Stuart|title=Hamas official claims prisoner deal coming soon|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-official-claims-prisoner-deal-coming-soon/|access-date=15 October 2014|publisher=Times of Israel|date=14 October 2014}}{{cite news|last1=i24|title=Egypt issues invitations for Israel-Palestinian talks|url=http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/47967-141020-egypt-issues|access-date=20 October 2014|publisher=i24news|date=20 October 2014}}

The question of whether Israel should release convicted Palestinian militants in exchange for Hamas' agreement to release the bodies of the 2 dead soldiers ignited a heated political debate within Israel.{{cite news|last1=CohenGil|title=Israel refusing to release rearrested Hamas prisoners from Shalit deal, official says|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.618593|access-date=15 October 2014|publisher=Haaretz|date=1 October 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Dvorin|first1=Tova|title=Report: Israel, Hamas Close to Terrorist Swap Deal; Hamas official boasts of 'bargaining chip' ahead on Facebook page|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/185631#.VD6QzufXOHk|access-date=15 October 2014|agency=Israel National News|publisher=Arutz Sheva|date=30 September 2014}} Apparently referring to the 2 bodies, Hamas official Mushir al-Masri boasted that "Hamas has bargaining chips that forced Israel to succumb to Palestinian demands. The indirect negotiations mediated by the Egyptians may in the future lead to a new prisoner swap deal in which many Palestinian prisoners are freed." on his Facebook page.{{cite news|last1=staffIsraelHaYom|title=Hamas says it might trade IDF soldiers' bodies for prisoners|url=http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=20659|access-date=15 October 2014|publisher=Israel HaYom|date=10 October 2014}}

In September 2017 a gallery show of works by Goldin was put on in Brooklyn, New York, to both bring attention to Goldin's fate and celebrate his life and artistic talents.{{Cite web |last=Dreifus |first=Erika |date=2017-09-07 |title=Gallery Show by Hadar Goldin, IDF Soldier Kidnapped and Killed by Hamas, Opens in Brooklyn |url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/gallery-show-by-hadar-goldin-idf-soldier-kidnapped-and-killed-by-hamas-opens-in-brooklyn |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Tablet Magazine |language=en}}

In 2018, the father of Goldin reportedly told by politicians that the prisoners released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange who were later rearrested would serve as bargaining chips for his sons body. Additionally in 2018, he stated that Netanyahu had repeatedly promised the family that there would be no arrangement in Gaza without the return of Goldin and Shaul's bodies.

During the Gaza War that began after the 7 October 2023 attacks the status of Shaul and Goldin were brought into forward especially during the ceasefires and hostage exchanges.{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Tal |date=27 January 2025 |title=Once again, Hadar Goldin may be left behind |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/once-again-hadar-goldin-may-be-left-behind/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}} Shortly after the attacks, the Goldin family had partnered with Psagot, a PTSD treatment organization, and over 600 people had contacted them for support and information helping lead to the creation of the Hostage and Missing Persons Family Forum. However, the families of Shaul and Goldin had to fight for their sons and those previously captured by Hamas to be included on the IDFs official count of hostages.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Eve |date=2024-08-02 |title=Ten years without Hadar: A conversation with hostage mother Leah Goldin |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-812990#google_vignette |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}

In July 2023, the families of Shaul, Goldin, Avera Mengistu, and Hisham al-Sayed visited Geneva, Switzerland, and met with the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk and the vice-president of the International Committee of the Red Cross Gilles Carbonnier to speak on behalf of their relatives.{{Cite web |last= |date=6 July 2023 |title=Families of Israelis held in Gaza visit Geneva, seeking help from UN, Red Cross |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/families-of-israelis-held-in-gaza-visit-geneva-seeking-help-from-un-red-cross/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}} In December 2023, IDF troops destroyed Palestine Square in Gaza City along with a statue reportedly erected by Hamas which showed a fist emerging from an armored personnel carrier holding ID tags one of which is styled to mimic Oron Shauls.{{Cite news |last=חדשות |date=2023-12-18 |title=לוחמי גולני וחטיבה 188 השמידו את הפסל שפיאר את אסון הנגמ"ש שבו נפל אורון שאול |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hkb11ob0ua |access-date=2025-02-13 |work=Ynet |language=he}} In March 2024, it was announced that Israeli officials had agreed to a proposed prisoner exchange and release which would include the bodies of Shaul and Goldin.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-30 |title=Israel agrees to exchange prisoners for bodies of IDF soldiers killed in 2014 war |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-794450 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}

In January 2025 the parents of Goldin spoke out and criticized Netanyahu about the perceived inaction for the recovery of their sons body, and the re-release of Palestinians who had been reportedly held as bargaining chips towards the release of their son and Shaul.{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2025 |title=Leah and Simcha Goldin: Hadar and Oron have been abandoned for good |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402365 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.israelnationalnews.com}}

On January 19, 2025 it was publicized that Israeli troops have recovered Shaul's body.{{Cite web |title=Body of Oron Shaul, killed and captured by Hamas in 2014, recovered from Gaza |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/body-of-oron-shaul-killed-and-captured-by-hamas-in-2014-recovered-from-gaza/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}} The operation to recover the body was carried out jointly by the IDF and the Shin Bet security agency, with several special forces units including the Navy’s Shayetet 13 commando unit and another elite force in the Military Intelligence Directorate. The IDF did not reveal where in the Gaza Strip they found the body, and revealed three weeks later that the body was recovered only "hours before the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect".{{cite news |date=February 6, 2025 |title=Details of rescue operation: The drama behind the recovery of the body of Oron Shaul |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403479 |publisher=Israel National News}} Shaul’s body was brought back to Israel and taken to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute where it was identified. He was buried at a cemetery in Poria Illit with President Isaac Herzog delivering a eulogy.{{cite news |last=Keshet |first=Uriya |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Oron Shaul laid to rest after body held in Gaza for over 10 years |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/defense/artc-oron-shaul-laid-to-rest-after-body-held-in-gaza-for-over-10-years |publisher=i24News}}

• List of kidnappings
• Avera Mengistu

{{reflist}}

{{2014 Israel–Gaza conflict}}

Category:2014 Gaza War

Category:Israeli military casualties

Category:Kidnapped Israeli people

Category:Hostage taking in the Gaza Strip