Tel Aviv, Israel – Israel on Sunday demanded that Hamas return the body of slain Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin “immediately and without delay.” It warned that any delay could lead to a resumption of the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.
This escalation came after Hamas announced the discovery of the missing soldier’s body, and its delay in handing it over to the Israeli side.
Israeli escalation and warnings of a return to fighting
Channel 12’s correspondent, Almog Boker, quoted an Israeli political source as saying that “Israel views the delay in the return of kidnapped soldier Hadar Goldin with utmost seriousness…” Israel demands his immediate return.
In a sharp comment, Booker demanded that the government “give Hamas a few hours,” threatening: “Either you return Hadar, or you return to violent fighting. No conditions and no release of prisoners.”
This is the agreement, and Hamas is not fulfilling it.” Booker emphasized that the failure to deliver the weapons constitutes a “violation of the agreement” that was reached.
The Israeli newspaper Yisrael Hayom quoted an Israeli source describing Hamas’s behavior as a “serious violation.” This came after Hamas “delayed” handing over the body 24 hours after announcing its discovery.
A potential deal and tunnel elements
Israeli assessments indicate that Hamas is seeking to exploit Goldin’s body to pressure for a “comprehensive deal.” The goal is to resolve the issue of its members held captive in the Rafah tunnels.
The Maariv newspaper stated that the position indicates Hamas’s desire to “make a complete deal in exchange for the body of Hadar Goldin, apparently, to resolve the issue of its members held captive in the tunnels.”
In a related context, Israel Hayom indicated that Hamas may have decided to return the body now in an attempt to free about 200 of its members held in tunnels controlled by Israel.
American intervention to pressure Hamas
Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 13 reported on US intervention. This intervention is pressuring Hamas to return Goldin’s body, although it is unlikely the body will be handed over today.
A senior US official told Israel’s Channel 12 that “the Trump administration has been putting pressure on Hamas in recent days. The pressure is aimed at getting Golden’s body back to Israel. This is to allow for an agreement between the two sides to end the crisis of Hamas militants trapped in the Rafah tunnels.”
He added that returning the body would give Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “more political room to maneuver to end the crisis.”
