Leah Goldin, the mother of captured IDF soldier Hadar Goldin, addressed the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.
In her remarks to the international body, Goldin called on its member states to change their policies on the Gaza Strip and take initiative to bring back the captured Israeli soldiers and civilians being held by Hamas in the terrorist enclave.
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"Hadar was 23 years old. A gifted artist, he was engaged to be married to the love of his life, Edna, in [the] summer [of] 2014. But that August, hours after a UN ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, Hamas terrorists emerged from a tunnel in Gaza, ambushed an IDF unit and killed Hadar. For five years, Hamas has been holding our son and the remains of another soldier, Oron Shaul, refusing to release them in flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law."
"For five years, Hamas has cruelly tormented our family, denying Hadar a proper burial and Red Cross access."
"In June, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2474 mandating all nations share responsibility to return the remains of missing persons in armed conflict and for UN special envoys to take this into account in implementing their mandates."
"Last month, I met Secretary-General Guterres, who reiterated he stands behind the resolution calling to immediately and unconditionally release our son's remains."
"This is not my mission alone. It is a mission we all share. As mothers and fathers, please imagine just for a moment: What if this was your son?"
This summer marked five years since Hadar was killed by Hamas during a UN ceasefire in Operation Protective Edge.
