‘Bring your sons from afar’: The decade-long operation to return Hadar Goldin’s body

A decade-long, secretive Israeli military intelligence operation, dubbed “Bring Your Sons From Afar,” successfully located and facilitated the return of Lt. Hadar Goldin’s body for burial in November 2025. Goldin was killed in Gaza on August 1, 2014, during a ceasefire. Led by Col. Mem, the unit utilized intelligence from special forces raids, tunnel operations, double agents, and interrogations of Gazan medical officials.

• Initial efforts involved analyzing helmet-camera footage and smoke-mapping tactics to narrow down potential locations in Rafah.
• The team identified a suspicious ambulance at Youssef al-Najjar Hospital and connected Dr. Marwan al-Hams, later the hospital director, to the case.
• After the October 7, 2023, attacks, the unit rejoined broader hostage efforts, but continued to pursue Goldin’s case, eventually locating a complex, multi-level tunnel system in Rafah where his body was believed to be held.
• Al-Hams was apprehended in July 2025, suspected of knowing Goldin’s burial location. Despite interrogation, he revealed nothing, but Israel later provided precise intelligence to Hamas, leading to the return of Goldin’s remains.