Family of missing soldier slams 'Hamas lies' broadcast on Al Jazeera

Members of the Goldin family say the only reliable information is that from security forces.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: AUGUST 28, 2015 11:36
Sec.-Lt. Hadar Goldin. (photo credit: Courtesy)
Sec.-Lt. Hadar Goldin.
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The family of 2nd Lt. Hadar Goldin slammed a report on Al Jazeera on Thursday, alleging that the IDF recovered the body of a terrorist instead of their son during Operation Protective Edge.
In a statement on Friday, the family said that the body part recovered during the August 1, 2014 attack was indeed that of their son.
"Hamas's lies are being heard again and being given a stage on Al Jazeera," they said. "We see the security establishment as the only one to trust for reliable information. We call for increased pressure on Hamas to return Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin."
In addition to 2nd Lt. Goldin, Hamas still holds the remains of Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul, who was killed in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood, a Hamas stronghold, last summer.
In the Thursday interview, a masked Kassam Brigades commander said that the IDF accidentally recovered the body of  Walid Tufik Massoud, the terrorist who killed Goldin, saying that Massoud was wearing an IDF uniform at the time.
The  interview was conducted as part of Al Jazeera's "Black Box" series and claims to shed new light on the attack in which 2nd Lt. Goldin was taken and Maj. Benaya Sarel and Staff Sergeant Liel Gidoni were killed.
 
According to Israeli military sources, on August 1 terrorists emerged from a tunnel shaft and a suicide bomber detonated himself in the vicinity of soldiers. Heavy exchanges of fire ensued, before one of the IDF soldiers was kidnapped.
The IDF said the incident occurred at 9:30 a.m. after the temporary cease-fire went into effect at 8 a.m. However, one of the Hamas members interviewed on Thursday claimed that the gunfight occurred at 7:30 a.m. and lasted five minutes, ending before the temporary cease-fire was due to go into effect.


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