IDF Reveals Details of Tunnel Used to Hold Slain Captive Hadar Goldin

Eleven years after the abduction of officer Hadar Goldin, the IDF has revealed new details about the extensive tunnel network in Rafah where he was held. The tunnel, codenamed "Dror Lavan," was discovered and sealed by IDF forces from the Southern Command, including the Commando Brigade, Yahalom, and Shayetet 13 naval commandos, in late June 2026. The underground route spanned over 16 kilometers across three levels, with the deepest point reaching 30 meters below ground. It ran beneath a densely populated residential area near the Philadelphi Corridor, passing through sensitive civilian sites such as a UNRWA compound, mosques, clinics, kindergartens, and schools.

The operation to seal the tunnel involved pouring over 30,000 cubic meters of concrete. The IDF stated that efforts to recover Goldin's body, which included extensive intelligence gathering and operational actions led by the IDF and Shin Bet, continued for a decade, intensifying during the recent war. Goldin was declared a fallen captive officer in November 2025, shortly after his return for burial following identification by the National Center of Forensic Medicine, Israel Police, and the Military Rabbinate. His abduction occurred 11 years prior, and the combat team of the Nahal Brigade destroyed the shaft from which he was taken shortly after his return.