The families of IDF soldiers Lt. Hadar Goldin HY”D and Sgt. Oren Shaul on Sunday morning, 24 Menachem Av, held a joint press conference in the Plaza Hotel to send a clear message to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet.

The bottom line message sent out is the return of the remains of their sons must be a top priority in and all future agreements made between Hamas and Israel. The Goldins in particular have been leading a battle since the two fell in battle in the summer of 2014, During Operation Protective Edge, the counter-terrorism operation in Gaza. Hamas terrorists then succeeded in grabbing the bodies, which they carried via one of the tunnels in Rafiach. Despite efforts by soldiers, led by then Colonel Ofir Winter, to apprehend the terrorists, the terrorists disappeared in the vast tunnel complex and the remains of the two have been in Hamas hands till this day.

Dr. Simcha Goldin continues to criticize PM Netanyahu and the cabinet for failing to place the return of the bodies atop of the priority list, stating the weekly cabinet meeting taking place as they convened is a charade, discussing the Hamas ceasefire simply to give the impression efforts are ongoing to bring the bodies home, which is not the case. He also feels Israel is giving in regarding the battle to stop the balloon bombs and fire kites, as the attacks continue on an almost daily basis.

Mrs. Zahava Shaul called on the public at large to join in their battle, asking Israelis not to permit the cabinet to forget the commitment and responsibility to bring the bodies home, citing at present, with the ceasefire, a window of opportunity exists which should not be missed.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)