Hadar Goldin’s Passing Proven Via DNA Samples

Last night, the IDF disclosed that the death of Officer Hadar Goldin was confirmed by checking the DNA of parts of his body that were found in a tunnel. Goldin was listed as missing in action on Friday following a deadly incident in southern Gaza in the morning in which two other soldiers were killed, with Israel saying it suspected he had been snatched by Palestinian militants.

On Sunday, the army announced that Hadar had been killed in action. IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner told AFP he had been identified by his DNA.

“What we know for sure was that one suicide bomber and at least three or four other gunmen came out of a tunnel. One blew himself up, killing two on the spot, and the others were shooting – they grabbed Hadar and snatched him down into the tunnel,” he said. “We don’t know if he was alive and wounded, or dead at this time. Only in the aftermath, with the forensic investigation, were we able to conclude that he was killed.

“He was identified by his DNA,” Lerner said. “There was enough to determine that he had been killed and to carry out a burial.”

{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau, AFP}