Fallen soldier's father vows to bring son's body home from Gaza

A memorial ceremony was held at the Kfar Saba Military Cemetery on Tuesday to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of Lt. Hadar Goldin, who fell in battle in Rafah during Operation Protective Edge last summer and whose remains have yet to be returned to Israel.

"There is a covenant between fighters and their commanders," Simcha Goldin, the late soldier's father, said at Tuesday's ceremony. "There is an eternal pact between parents and state leaders. In the name of the covenant between fighters and their commanders, I remind you that the IDF left two bodies in Gaza [the remains of Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul who fell in battle in Shujaiyya have also not been returned to Israel]. In the name of the sacred pact between parents and state leaders, I vow that we will bring Hadar home for burial in Israel. We will act as Hadar would have, with courage and humility."

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon attended Tuesday's ceremony. Ya'alon said, "We as a government and I as defense minister are committed to doing everything to bring Oron and Hadar to Israel. We will not rest until we do this."

Edna Serusi, Goldin's fianc e at the time of his death, also spoke at the ceremony. "Hadar, I feel you strongly in my heart, as if you were here," she said.