NEW YORK - The World Jewish Congress on Monday hosted Prof. Simha and Dr. Leah Goldin, the parents of IDF Lt. Hadar Goldin, who fell in action in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge in 2014 and whose body remains in the hands of Hamas.
The Goldins were in New York to make a humanitarian appeal to the United Nations to take responsibility to ensure that the bodies of their son and Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul, who also fell during the war in Gaza, be returned to Israel swiftly for burial.
Accompanied by Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, the Goldins met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Boon’s chief of staff, Edmond Moulet.
The Goldins have emphasized over the course of their appeal that their son’s death is an international humanitarian issue as he was killed following Hamas’ violation of an international cease-fire that had been brokered by UN chief Ban and US Secretary of State John Kerry.
“As the organization representing the Jewish communities worldwide, the World Jewish Congress, led by President Ronald S. Lauder, fully supports the Goldins’ humanitarian appeal to secure the return of Hadar's body and enable his rightful burial in Israel,” says World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer.
As part of their tours abroad, the Goldins arranged an exhibition featuring their son’s art work, which will be put on display next fall at the Park East Synagogue in New York City. The parents’ meeting at WJC headquarters was also attended by representatives of other Jewish organizations, including AIPAC and ADL.
