Simcha Goldin
Simcha GoldinYoni Kempinski

The family of Lt. Hadar Goldin, whose body is being held by Hamas in Gaza, appealed to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the security establishment on Sunday, demanding that it hold on to the bodies of two Hamas terrorists that were killed on Friday.

Professor Hadar Goldin, who is the father of Hadar, told Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities Yaron Blum and COGAT head Major General Yoav Mordechai that the bodies should be kept as a bargaining chip for the return of his son.

"Israel must use the bodies as a bargaining chip in the face of Hamas and hold them until a solution is found and the soldiers' [bodies] are returned," said Simha Goldin.

Multiple Arab news outlets reported on Sunday that the IDF is holding on to the bodies of two Hamas terrorists who were killed during Friday's violent clashes.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit has refused to comment on the matter.

Hamas has been holding the bodies of IDF soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul since the 2014 Operation Protective Edge. In addition, two Israeli civilians who went missing in Gaza - Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed - are believed to be held by Hamas as well.

The Goldin family has been lobbying the Israeli government to pressure Hamas in order to facilitate the release of Hadar's body. In February, the Goldins appealed to the Supreme Court, alleging that Israel's intention to return the bodies of terrorists who had murdered Israelis in other attacks contradicted an earlier cabinet decision.

Hamas terrorists killed in border riot
Hamas terrorists killed in border riotPrime Minister's Office