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Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/sk8uvdjhfx#autoplay
How Israel Brought Lt. Hadar Goldin Home from Gaza
(Ynet News) Avi Issacharoff - The body of Lt. Hadar Goldin was abducted by Hamas terrorists into Gaza after a ceasefire on August 1, 2014, and hidden for more than 11 years, until it was finally returned in November 2025. The State of Israel, the IDF and the security services attempted many operations to bring Goldin back and obtain intelligence about the place where Hamas was holding his body. A small intelligence team named "Bring Back Your Sons" managed to locate Goldin's body. The team was established by Col. M., 51, who led the intelligence effort that accompanied the special operations to locate and return Goldin to Israel for nine years. After Oct. 7, M. became a key figure for the entire issue of hostages and missing persons, and led numerous intelligence and operational deceptions designed to provide real information about the fate of all the hostages. Intensive intelligence work located the tunnel in Rafah where Goldin's body was being held four years before Oct. 7 and during the war the IDF avoided bombing the tunnel. The start of the IDF operation in Rafah finally made it possible to try to reach him. As forces reached the main shaft, the fighting there was difficult and complicated. "It was far beyond ordinary," M. said. "Stubborn fighting by Hamas operatives took place there, with many blockages, secret doors, booby traps. There were three levels there and a route of about 7 km." In July 2024, during the tunnel search, the forces tried to open one of the secret doors, and then shouting was heard from the other side and fire was opened at the soldiers. It emerged that these were the bodyguards of Mohammed Sinwar and Hamas Rafah Brigade commander Mohammed Shabana and this was their command center. Following that incident, the two fled and their escape led to the flight and collapse of the entire Hamas Rafah Brigade. When forces later killed Shabana, it emerged that he had been carrying Goldin's personal weapon.