Escalating Tensions Between Israel and Hamas Over Officer Hedar Goldin's Remains

SadaNews - There is a state of political and media tension in Israel regarding the case of the captured officer Hedar Goldin, whose remains, Israel claims, are held by Hamas and are not currently being handed over. The Israeli army radio quoted a political official stating that "Tel Aviv views the delay in the return of Goldin's remains with great seriousness," calling for their return "immediately" and unconditionally.

In the same context, Israeli military sources reported to the radio that "there is no negotiation for exchanging Goldin's remains for the Hamas fighters trapped in Rafah," considering this issue as part of a comprehensive deal to end the war, rather than a separate negotiation item.

For its part, the Hebrew site "Walla" revealed intriguing details, including a delegation from Hamas entering an area under Israeli control in the Al-Jinayna neighborhood, accompanied by the Red Cross, to search for the bodies of Israeli prisoners. The site pointed out that the operation was conducted in coordination with the Israeli army, raising questions about the nature of on-ground understandings between the two parties.

After the operation, Hamas released video clips claiming to have found the body of officer Goldin, prompting the Israeli Chief of Staff to visit the officer's family home, a move that stirred widespread controversy in Israeli circles.

Despite estimates suggesting an imminent announcement regarding the delivery of the body, silence prevailed from both sides, amid speculations that Hamas is exerting pressure to achieve field objectives, including the extraction of dozens of fighters trapped in the tunnels of Rafah.