‘We’re one family when it comes to horrors of Hamas’, says brother of IDF soldier kept in Gaza

The brother of an IDF soldier taken hostage in Gaza nine years ago is helping families going through similar experiences since the 7 October attacks.

Chemi Goldin’s brother Hadar Goldin was a Lieutenant in the elite Givati Brigade when he was kidnapped and killed in fighting in Gaza in August 2014, two hours after a ceasefire took effect. He was 23.

Along with another soldier, his body taken into the tunnel network by Hamas militants, leaving his family in the town of Kfar Saba in the dark as to his fate. Eventually they learned that he had died. His body is still to be returned.

Speaking to Jewish News this week, Chemi, 40, who now lives in Jerusalem, said it was important for the families of those taken hostage last week to remember that they are not alone, and that there is support available, not least from other families.

“Ever since 2014, we became a family with those whose dear ones were kidnapped and held in Gaza,” he said. “Now there are 200 who are kidnapped and held by Hamas, mostly civilians – I never imagined it would go up that high.”

“It’s families, it’s relatives, it’s neighbours… I’ve had so many WhatsApp messages. It’s a very sad and complicated situation, but it’s important to speak out about it.

“Jewishly-speaking, bringing back the hostages is the biggest mitzvah. Internationally-speaking, holding hostages is a clear breach of international humanitarian law. You just don’t do that. You don’t keep hostages. But they [Hamas] have, and it includes children and disabled people.”

Regarding those hostages being held in Gaza currently, Chemi said it was “important for the world to support Israel and to support us in bringing the hostages back”.

Addressing the families whose loved ones have just been taken, he said: “We are one big family when it comes to terror and when it comes to Hamas. It’s very important not to be silent, to show the world what Hamas is doing, and put global pressure on them.

“It’s one of the most difficult things in life to know that your loved ones are being held captive, not knowing their situation, not knowing what’s going to happen next, not knowing what the terrorists are doing to them.

“We can speak as a group, be a family, and make sure that Israel – in this war – will make it a primary mission to bring the hostages back.”

Chemi said Hamas “takes pride” in taking hostages, adding: “It’s what terrorists do”. With that in mind, they often broadcast images and video online, he said, but they also withhold information as well.