US envoy Greenblatt meets with kidnapped soldiers' families
Greenblatt expressed "his continued sympathy for the situation regarding their beloved sons, Hadar and Oron, who were kidnapped while serving in the IDF during the Gaza conflict in 2014."
By EYTAN HALONUpdated: JUNE 25, 2017 00:10Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin(photo credit: REUTERS,Courtesy)
US Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt met with the families of Lt. Hadar Goldin and St.-Sgt. Oron Shaul on Wednesday during his trip to Israel last week, according to a statement released by Trump’s envoy on Friday.According to the statement, Greenblatt expressed “his continued sympathy for the situation regarding their beloved sons, Hadar and Oron, who were kidnapped while serving in the IDF during the Gaza conflict in 2014.” It was later confirmed that the two men were killed in action.Greenblatt’s visit also included meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem, and with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.“Mr. Greenblatt remains outraged at Hamas’s inhumane refusal to return Hadar and Oron, and supports the families as they continue to seek their sons’ return,” read the statement. Hamas continues to hold the bodies of Goldin and Shaul since Operation Protective Edge. Three other Israeli nationals – Avraham “Avera” Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayed and Jumaa Abu Ghanima – are said to be held captive in the Gaza Strip by Hamas. All three are believed to suffer from mental illnesses.On Saturday, the IDF handed over to the Mengistu family a video recording of the September 2014 incident in which Avraham voluntarily crossed into Gaza.