The Hamas terror organization continues its psychological war against Israel in an attempt to cause the families of fallen soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul to pressure the government so that it responds to Hamas's demands in exchange for the return of their bodies.
Hamas's official line rejects any negotiations with Israel on the return of the bodies of the fallen soldiers until terrorists who were freed in the Gilad Shalit deal and were then re-arrested are freed.
The organization also refuses to provide any information about the conditions of the soldiers and is trying to create a deceptive impression as though they are still alive.
Abu al-Attar, a commander of Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades, said in an interview with Al-Jazeera on Wednesday, "Where did Oron Shaul go if his remains, blood, weapons, or any trace of him weren't found? Did the explosive that blew up the armored personnel carrier have so much power that it caused the soldier to evaporate so there were no traces of him? If so, why is he the only one who evaporated?”
With respect to Goldin, Al-Attar claimed that “his remains were lost completely. The enemy found it difficult to determine if he is alive or dead. So, he found himself being forced to lie to the family of the soldier and told them he was dead.”
Israeli officials recently reported that Israel had opened communications with the terror group in the hopes of negotiating the return of the soldiers' remains as well as the return of two Israeli civilians held captive by Hamas.
Hamas denied those reports, saying it would not consider talks with Israel until security prisoners released under previous agreements, who returned to terror and were then taken into custody again, be freed.