Hamas knows where hostages Hadar Goldin, Asaf Hamami buried, stalling return, source tells 'Post' - Amichai Stein, Jerusalem Post Staff

 

by Amichai Stein, Jerusalem Post Staff

A source told The Jerusalem Post that Hamas is dragging its feet on returning the bodies of slain hostages Hadar Goldin and Col. Assaf Hamami.

 

(L-R): Slain Gaza hostages Hadar Goldin; Assaf Hamami

(photo credit: HANDOUT, IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

 

Hamas knows where slain hostages IDF Lt. Hadar Goldin and Col. Asaf Hamami are buried, but is stalling the return of their remains, a source told The Jerusalem Post on Monday. 

Goldin was taken captive on August 1, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge. He was working to dismantle a terror tunnel in Rafah when two Hamas terrorists emerged from the tunnel and took him captive. 

He was initially believed to have been taken alive, but the IDF announced days later that he had been killed before his body was taken.

The Military Rabbinate decided that the matter was clear enough to hold a funeral, and despite his body being held in Gaza, partial remains were buried in a funeral attended by thousands of Israelis.

IDF Col. Asaf Hamami was the commander of Gaza Division's Southern Brigade. On October 7, he rushed to Kibbutz Nirim to defend the border.

A house at Kibbutz Nirim burned on October 7 in the Hamas attack. (credit: SETH J. FRANTZMAN)

According to KAN 7.10.360, a digital memorial project of October 7, when Hamami reached Kibbutz Nirim with fellow soldiers Tomer Ahimas and Kiril Brodsky, he immediately recognized the extent of the situation, quickly calling on his radio, “Guys, we’re at war. We’re at war.”

He was subsequently fatally wounded, and his body was taken hostage to Gaza. 

Hamas says it will hand over unidentified hostage remains on Monday

This comes as Hamas confirmed that it would hand over the remains of an unidentified hostage on Monday evening. 

A member of Hamas's Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades told Al Jazeera that the remains were discovered during excavation efforts in the Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City. 

Hamas also told Arab mediators on Monday that it is working to excavate between seven and nine bodies of slain hostages from the Gaza Strip, Saudi network Asharq News reported on Monday. 

The source added that as soon as the remains are excavated, Hamas will hand them over to the Red Cross. However, the source did not say whether all the remains will be released in a single handover. 

Amichai Stein, Jerusalem Post Staff

Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-871852

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