On Tuesday, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and the Arab news site "Palestine Al-An" (Palestine Now) released new information regarding the kidnapping of Israel Defense Forces Lieutenant Hadar Goldin exactly 9 years ago during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza. According to their account, an ambush had been prepared even before the operation began.
Militants from the Al-Qassam Brigades claimed that they were positioned in the "Abu Al-Rus" ambush area from the outset of the campaign. On August 1, 2014, a force from the Givati ​​Brigade advanced from the Khaza'a area, east of Khan Yunis, towards East Rafah, and took positions in the Abu Al-Rus area.
In an attempt to score propaganda points and remind the Israeli government it has the bodies of IDF soldiers, Hamas gave a testimonial about the ambush of IDF soldiers in southern Gaza during the 2014 conflict. The ambush led to the capture of Hadar Goldin’s body. pic.twitter.com/U81cjXQz5v
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) August 1, 2023
The IDF force, consisting of several tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs), deployed soldiers who entered the "Abu al-Rus" building. Al-Qassam fighters closely observed and monitored the situation, ready for action, and equipped to inflict significant casualties on the Israeli troops.
Raid Attar, commander of the Rafah Brigade, advised waiting, as the senior command was interested in kidnapping Israeli soldiers rather than causing fatalities. On the morning of the kidnapping, a humanitarian ceasefire was in effect. During this period, an Al-Qassam militant adjusted an explosive device planted at the site. The IDF force noticed the suspicious activity and eliminated the militant. Simultaneously, another group of the Givati patrol moved towards the location.
A disguised Al-Qassam militant, Walid Masoud, dressed in an IDF uniform, leaped from the second floor of the building and attacked the force's liaison officer, Sergeant Lial Gideoni, killing him. Subsequently, the remaining Al-Qassam terrorists opened heavy fire on the Givati patrol, resulting in the death of Major Baniya Sharal and Lieutenant Hadar Goldin. Goldin's body was kidnapped and taken through an underground tunnel.
In a video posted on Twitter, the Al-Qassam Brigades presented an IDF dog tag, purportedly captured during the operation, bearing the word "Givati" and the numbers "400" and "5." They also showcased assault rifles seized during the incident.
Today marks nine years since LT Hadar Goldin was killed in combat in Gaza and his body taken hostage by Hamas, during a ceasefire brokered by the international communitee.
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) July 23, 2023
For nine years, the terrorist organization has held LT Goldin and First Sergeant Oron Shaul’s bodies… pic.twitter.com/4SCon7tLcz
The revelation of this information sheds light on the events surrounding Lieutenant Hadar Goldin's kidnapping and underscores the ongoing tensions and violence in the region. The incident serves as a reminder of the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing security challenges faced by both sides.
