4,120 days after he was killed and abducted during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, and two days after his remains were returned for burial in Israel following a struggle that lasted more than 11 years, Lt. Hadar Goldin was laid to rest Tuesday morning at the Kfar Saba military cemetery.
Thousands took part in the funeral procession, which departed under police escort from the Shura military base toward the cemetery. Attendees remained outside the site, which was declared a “sterile zone” due to the presence of IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who will deliver a eulogy. Large screens and speakers were set up nearby, and only family members and IDF representatives were allowed inside.
Throughout Kfar Saba, Israeli flags and signs have been hung along the route to the cemetery. One sign reads, “Until the first hostage,” a reference to the Goldin family’s decade-long campaign that began years before the October 7 Hamas terror attack, when 251 soldiers and civilians were abducted to Gaza. Soldiers from the Givati Brigade, where Goldin served, arrived early in the morning to prepare for the funeral.
On Monday, the Prime Minister’s Office reached out to the Goldin family to inquire about a visit from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the family declined, stating they wished to remain together privately at this time.
Goldin’s siblings—Hemi, Tzur, and Ayelet—gave a statement outside the family home on Monday evening. “We want to stop and say thank you,” Ayelet Goldin said on behalf of the family. “Without the people of Israel, Hadar would not be home. Even in this emotional moment, we remember that four hostages are still held in Gaza. Bringing Hadar back after 11 years proves it’s possible to bring them all home. We will bring everyone back. These are the values of the people of Israel.”
She added, “We want to thank every person who held a sign, who prayed, the Hostage Families Forum, and all of Israeli society. Because of you, Hadar is home. We’ve felt the nation’s embrace over the past day. This society will bring everyone home, and with God’s help, we will heal. We invite the public to accompany Hadar on his final journey.”
Lt. Hadar Goldin was 23 when he was killed. He is survived by his parents, Simcha and Leah, his sister Ayelet, his brothers Hemi and Tzur, and his twin.
The funeral procession will pass through Kfar Saba’s main streets—Tel Hai Interchange, Tel Hai Street, Weizmann Street, and HaEmek Street—before reaching the cemetery.
First published: 08:33, 11.11.25