IDF reveals tunnel where Hamas held Lt. Hadar Goldin's remains, one year after his return

One year after the return of Lt. Hadar Goldin, the IDF disclosed details of the secret operations that led to his recovery, including the arrest of a Hamas operative and the sealing of a vast tunnel in Rafah where his remains were held.

A year after the return of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, new details have been revealed about the operational and intelligence effort that led to his return. The activity included the arrest of a Hamas operative, Marwan al-Hamts, in July 2025, who was suspected of knowing where Goldin was buried in the "Dror Lavan" tunnel in Rafah. Additionally, IDF forces uncovered a vast underground route in southern Rafah, over ten kilometers long, on three levels and at a depth of 30 meters, containing about 80 rooms, including control rooms used by senior Hamas commanders. At the end of June 2026, Yahalom and Shayetet 13 forces sealed the route using over 30,000 cubic meters of concrete. Goldin, who fell and was abducted in battle during Operation Protective Edge on August 1, 2014, was returned to Israel on November 9, 2025. The article is based on information from the IDF and Shin Bet.