Parents of soldier killed in Gaza speak out
Family members of Oron Shaul, the Golani soldier who was killed during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, held a press conference: 'Haniyeh, show us proof that Oron is alive,' they say. 'We want to believe you.'
A year and a half after the IDF announced Oron Shaul as a fallen soldier, and the whereabouts of his remains unknown, Shaul's parents Zehava and Hertzel on Sunday held a press conference at their family home in Poria Illit.
The family's press conference took place in the wake of a "letter" published in Arabic two weeks ago, on a website under the name "Oron Shaul." This is not the first time that Hamas has done this, either to mock the Shaul family or upset them.
Hamas has not presented any evidence since the end of Operation Protective Edge that Shaul is alive, save for his dog-tag number. According to the official version of events, the Golani soldier and several of his comrades were killed when his APC was blown up in the Saja’iyya neighborhood of Gaza City.
Hamas has claimed since that they have several Israeli prisoners captive and have on occasion leaked pieces of supposed information about them, with the aim of demoralizing the families of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, another soldier killed during the operation.
During the press conference Oron's mother, Zehava, addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Nothing has happened for a year and a half. This has to change. There needs to be either a change in thinking or a demand for action.
"I have no doubt that we need to think differently in order to have our sons Oron and Hadar (Goldin) brought back home," Shaul continued.
She also addressed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh: "I want to believe you. Show some firm proof about the situation of my son. The moment you present it, we will turn the country and the world upside down in order to get a deal.
"Think about it Haniyeh. I am demanding again of my country – bring back my boy Oron, along with Hadar Goldin," Shaul said.
A year and a half has passed since Operation Protective Edge. The bottom line is we did not get results, Oron has not returned home as required and as expected. It's important for me to point out that we, the family, have no concrete and verifiable information proving that Oron is alive, dead or wounded. We are in a state of uncertainty," she explained.
She added: "I'm talking as a proud Jewish mother who raised her sons with values. We sent Oron Saul and Hadar Goldin to serve the country, we placed them in the hands of military commanders who sent them to protect the homeland. I would like to remind officers and the state's leaders that one of the military's fundamental values is not to abandon wounded or dead soldiers on the battlefield. You have the duty and the responsibility to bring the boys home, in any way and under any conditions, and as soon as possible."
