The family of the late Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was killed in Gaza in 2014 and whose remains Hamas refuses to return to Israel for burial, sailed from Ashdod to Ashkelon on Monday as part of a new campaign to have Goldin's remains, as well as those of Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul, brought home.
The Goldin family's rallying cry is "No deal without our boys."
Goldin's mother, Leah, said, "When we were children, the words 'Go to Gaza' were a curse. Today, we are sailing in the direction of Gaza to put pressure on the government and decision makers, and force them to act."
His father, Simcha, said, "Our children stayed behind the Rafah [border] crossing, and four years on, the leadership has not brought them home and continues to feed the monster known as Hamas.
"Our leadership isn't using all the tools at its disposal to bring our children home," he said.
A number of Knesset members were on board the boat.
Habayit Hayehudi MK Shuli Mualem-Rafaeli said, "We are in close contact with the Goldin and Shaul families, as well as the families of the Israeli citizens who are being held captive, and are putting out a call for any humanitarian aid in bringing them all home."
