'No reconstruction in Gaza until Israeli soldiers are released'

The brother of an Israeli soldier whose body is believed to be in the Gaza Strip demanded the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip be conditional on his brother’s release.

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported yesterday that the twin brother of Hadar Goldin, who was killed and then captured by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza, called on the United States to link the issue of the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip with the release of his brother’s body.

During a speech at the pro-Israel Evangelical Christians annual conference, Tzur Goldin said: “I am here today to bring my brother’s body home, please help me return it.”

The Palestinian resistance in Gaza refuses to disclose the number of Israeli prisoners of war in its custody; however the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, announced that it had captured Israeli soldier Shaul Aaron at the start of Israel’s offensive on Gaza last summer.

Israeli sources say Al-Qassam Brigades are holding four Israeli prisoners of war; the bodies of two soldiers and two live captives, one Ethiopian and the other is an Arab from amongst Negev’s Bedouins.