Paintings by IDF soldier whose body is held by Hamas to be displayed at UN

Artwork by an Israeli soldier killed in the Operation Protective Edge, waged in the Gaza Strip in 2014, will be featured as a special exhibit at the U.N. held as part of the General Assembly meeting scheduled to take place in September, Israel Hayom learned Sunday.

Givati Brigade Lt. Hadar Goldin was killed in a clash with Hamas operatives in Rafah. His remains, and those of Golani Brigade Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul were abducted and are being held by Hamas.

The exhibition, titled "The Final Peace," will be showcased in the main lobby, where world leaders will see it upon their arrival at the General Assembly.

Goldin's parents, Simcha and Leah, and his twin brother Tzur, will arrive at the U.N. headquarters in New York for the exhibit's premier, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon will attends as well.

The idea for the exhibit followed a visit by an art curator, who visited the Goldin family while they were sitting shiva, the traditional weeklong mourning period, and was impressed by the fallen soldier's art.

Goldin was killed during a U.N.-backed humanitarian cease-fire, his family said it holds the U.N. as one of the main bodies responsible to ensure his remains are returned to Israel.

"World leaders must be able to see that beyond being an Israeli soldier captured during a U.N. cease-fire, Hadar was also a talented human being, skilled and full of life, with his whole life ahead of him. The U.N. and the international community must accept responsibility and act to have Hadar's body returned for burial in Israel," Goldin's mother Leah said, explaining the importance the family lends to the exhibit.

"Hadar was killed and his body abducted by heinous terrorists during a U.N.-backed cease-fire," Danon said. "It is very important that U.N. officials and world leaders see that in addition to being a brave fighter killed protecting his country, Hadar was also a son, a brother, and a talented artist."

Danon will also try to orchestrate meetings between the Goldin family and U.N. officials with the aim of promoting efforts to return Goldin and Shaul's remains to Israel.

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