Hostage Deal

In his first interview since being freed, Matan Zangauker recounts his harrowing kidnapping, brutal captivity, and the inspiring fight of his mother to secure his release.

“The Prime Minister consulted the family over the possibility of a visit and was told that they prefer to keep the event private to only close family members,” an official close to Netanyahu said.

The Goldin family hopes that Hadar will remain a symbol, adding that they fought for camaraderie, a burial in Israel, and human dignity. Israeli political and military officials also eulogized him.

The National Institute of Forensic Medicine identified the Gaza hostage returned on Sunday as Lt. Hadar Goldin, who had been held in Gaza since 2014.

In an online forum, citizens of the Gaza Envelope are concerned that the situation will grow worse, and are demanding a discussion in the Knesset.

“We will still continue to stand by the families who are also waiting for the end of their circle,” said the kibbutz spokesperson in a statement.

In addition to identifying hostages, Institute of Forensic Medicine Director Dr. Chen Kugel spoke about the moment he found himself identifying the body of Hamas terrorist leader Yahya Sinwar.

Following the Al Jazeera report, a security source confirmed to Maariv that hostage remains were being recovered by the terror group from the Israeli-controlled side of the Yellow Line.

A husband, father, and grandfather, longtime Nir Yitzhak resident Lior Rudaeff was a member of the kibbutz’s response team when he was murdered by Palestinian Islamic Jihad on October 7, 2023.

Braslavski's captors significantly worsened his situation in March 2025, after the second ceasefire deal concluded.

"Lior was a man of the land, family, and community. A volunteer, a neighbor, and a true friend who was always there for everyone," Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak wrote in a statement.