The Israeli military says one of its soldiers previously believed to have been captured by members of the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, in the Gaza Strip has been killed during clashes in the impoverished coastal sliver.
The Israeli army announced early on Sunday that 23-year-old Second Lieutenant Hadar Goldin of the Givati infantry brigade was killed in battle on Friday.
The Israeli Minister of Military Affairs Moshe Ya'alon personally delivered the news to Goldin’s family at their home in the town of Kfar Saba. Ya'alon said evidence on the ground shows Goldin was killed during an Israeli operation in Gaza.
Tel Aviv earlier accused Hamas of capturing the officer and intensified its attacks on the besieged strip. The Palestinian resistance movement had, however, denied information on Goldin’s whereabouts or the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said the missing officer may have been killed in the Israeli bombardment. British media have reported that Goldin is a cousin of Ya'alon.
Israel has been targeting the Gaza Strip with military attacks since July 8. The air, sea and land strikes by Israel have so far killed at least 1,712 people and injured over 9,080 others, according to Palestinian sources.
Palestinian resistance fighters have been launching retaliatory attacks against Israel.
HH/HH
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