Mr. Herzl Shaul z”l, father of fallen IDF soldier Sgt. Oren Shaul HY”D, was niftar last week after battling a difficult illness. Shaul and Lt. Hadar Goldin HY”D were killed in fighting in Gaza during Operation Protective Shield and their bodies were snatched by Hamas into a tunnel. Hamas hope to use the bodies as negotiating pawns to obtain the release of terrorists imprisoned in Israel.

Following is the official statement released by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu following the announcement of Mr. Oren’s petira.

“We received with great sorrow the news of the passing of Herzl Shaul, who suffered from a difficult disease and fought for his life over a prolonged period. In our meetings with Herzl, we saw a strong man who dedicated all of his time and energy to the struggles for his health and for the return of his late son Oren’s remains. We grieve for his dedicated wife Zahava, who experienced a terrible tragedy over the loss of her son Oron and must now cope with the great pain of the loss of her beloved husband. We also convey our condolences to their sons Aviram and Ofek, who have experienced terrible loss twice in two years.

“On behalf of the entire people of Israel, we share in the family’s bereavement and assure that we will continue to act in all fields to bring Oron back for a Jewish burial. This effort will not cease until Oron returns home.”

At the start of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, 2 Rosh Chodesh Elul, Mr. Netanyahu added, “Today, the late Herzl Shaul, the father of IDF soldier the late Oron Shaul, will be laid to rest. Oron’s body, along with that of Hadar Goldin, is held by Hamas, a vicious terrorist organization that respects no humanitarian norm. Herzl Shaul was a brave man and until his last days he fought to return his son’s remains for a Jewish burial. At the same time, over the past year, he was compelled to fight the cancer with which he had been stricken. I saw him several times and on each occasion, from meeting to meeting, he appeared gaunter, and heroically met the double tragedy that befell him and his family. On behalf of the Government and the people of Israel, I would like to send condolences to his dear wife Zahava and their sons Aviram and Ofek. We will continue to act in all fields to bring the late Hadar Goldin and the late Oron Shaul back for a Jewish burial.”

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman recently elicited the ire of the families of Shaul and Goldin families, announcing he would not trade terrorists for the bodies of fallen soldiers in a prisoner exchange deal.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)