Israeli Soldier Declared Dead By Military Officials, Netanyahu Addresses Israelis

This undated photo shows Israeli Army 2nd. Lt. Hadar Goldin, 23, from Kfar Saba, central Israel. (Photo: AP/YNET News)

Officials announced early Sunday that Hadar Goldin, the Israeli soldier believed to have been abducted by Hamas, has been declared dead by the Israeli military.

The 23-year-old’s death was announced after Israel’s defense minister, along with the chief rabbi, met with the soldier’s family at their home in the town of Kfar Saba. Military officials said that the Goldin, of the Givati infantry brigade was killed in battle on Friday.

There were hundreds of people from around the country gathering outside their home, praying and showing their support. An outpouring of grief could be heard when the military’s announcement was made public.

“Prior to the decision, all medical considerations, religious observances, as well as additional relevant issues were taken into consideration,” the military said.

The Israeli military previously believed the soldier was kidnapped by Hamas during an ambush that took place just one hour after an internationally brokered cease-fire took effect Friday morning. The alleged capture prompted widespread international condemnation, including a statement from President Obama that called for Goldin’s unconditional and immediate release on Friday.

Haaretz reported Saturday that Hamas’ military wing said it had no knowledge of the soldier’s whereabouts, but that he could have been killed in an Israeli bombing after being kidnapped by Hamas.

“We lost contact with the group of combatants that took part in the ambush, and we believe they were all killed in the bombardment,” the statement said. “Assuming that they managed to abduct the soldier during combat, we assess that he was also killed in the incident.”

On Saturday, Israel scaled back its military operation in Gaza and said its objective to destroy the vast network of cross-border terror tunnels was nearly accomplished. Israeli officials also said they will not be participating for now in any cease-fire negotiations in Cairo with Hamas, and the Islamic terror group has stated it won’t hold its fire even in the case of a unilateral Israeli pullout.

In a televised address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that once the tunnels are demolished, “the military will prepare for continuing action in according to our security needs,” emphasizing that all options remain on the table.

In his speech, Netanyahu addressed the rising death toll, but promised to “bring back the quiet” and use “as much power as needed.” He said the timeframe is only “as long as it will take.”

“We promised to return the quiet to Israel and that is what we will do. We will continue to act until that goal is reached, however long it will take and with as much force needed,” Netanyahu said. “Hamas needs to understand that it will pay an intolerable price as far as it is concerned for continuing to fire.”

Earlier in the day, Cabinet Minister Yuval Steinitz said Israel would not be sending a delegation to the so-called truce talks in Cairo. Speaking to Israel’s Channel 10 television station, he said that Hamas repeatedly violated previous cease-fire deals.

“That leads us to the conclusion that with this organization there is no point in speaking about an agreement or a cease-fire because we have tried it too many times,” Steinitz said.

“We will continue to resist until we achieve our goals,” Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said after Netanyahu’s speech, characterizing the Israeli leader’s remarks as “confused.”

Israel has said that the main purpose of its Gaza operation is to seek and destroy tunnels dug by Hamas that stretch into the Jewish state. Israel views the tunnel network as a strategic threat intended to commit mass killing and kidnappings on its civilians and soldiers.

Hamas militants who have made failed attempts to sneak into Israel have been found with sedatives and handcuffs, a clear attempt to kidnap soldiers and civilians, while several soldiers have been killed in the current round of fighting by Hamas militants emerging out of underground tunnels near Israeli communities along the Gaza border.

The Israeli military said it struck 200 targets over the previous 24 hours. It said it attacked five mosques that concealed weapons and that the Islamic University targeted was being used as a research and weapons manufacturing site for Hamas.

Meanwhile, Hamas fired about 90 rockets at Israel since midnight, according to the Israeli military, seven of which were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome rocket defense system. However, a mortar attack seriously injured a 70-year-old Israeli civilian.