Israeli Forces Seal Hamas Tunnel Where Sgt. Hadar Goldin Was Held in Gaza
Israeli engineering units from the Gaza Division and Southern Command have completed sealing the underground tunnel where Sergeant Hadar Goldin was held captive in Rafah, Gaza. Goldin was killed and abducted on August 1, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge. Following sustained operational efforts, Goldin's remains were returned to Israel in November 2025 as part of a prisoner exchange deal.
The complex operation lasted about three months and involved combatants from the Yahalom unit and Shayetet 13 naval commandos. They poured over 30,000 cubic meters of concrete into the tunnel system, which extends more than 16 kilometers. The massive tunnel network included approximately 80 living chambers and served as a central command and control hub for Hamas.
The tunnel route passed beneath densely populated residential neighborhoods, mosques, kindergartens, schools, and UNRWA clinics, deliberately exploiting the civilian population as human shields. It was used by the commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade to coordinate terrorist activities. The operation highlights Israel's ongoing efforts to neutralize Hamas's underground infrastructure in Gaza.
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