Palestinian reconciliation an opportunity for return of soldiers, says father

The father of one of the Israeli soldiers captured during the military offensive against the Gaza Strip three years ago has said that the Palestinian reconciliation process presents an opportunity for the men to be returned to their families, Safa News Agency has reported.

Professor Simcha Goldin, who is the father of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, said that the opportunity must not be lost. “Israeli has to pass this message to the regional and international communities,” he insisted during a marathon organised on Friday morning near the settlement of Kfar Saba. What’s more, he added, Palestinian reconciliation is a chance to declare formally the end of Israel’s “Operation Protective Edge”, the name given to its 2014 military offensive.

Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul were captured in the offensive, during which Israel killed more than 2,260 Palestinians, wounded 11,000 others, and destroyed schools, mosques, hospitals and infrastructure. Gaza, it is understood widely, was made unliveable by the third major Israeli attack in under six years.

In April, the military wing of Hamas, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, published pictures of four Israeli soldiers said to be held captive, including Goldin and Shaul. No talks about them are taking place, it pointed out.

Read: Hamas: Israel calling on global powers to mediate prisoner exchange