As part of the diplomatic efforts to return the bodies of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin and Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul for burial in Israel, Leah and Simcha, the parents of Hadar, held a round of diplomatic meetings at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday.
The Goldin family, together with Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, met with ambassadors from several countries including Ukraine, Peru, and Poland.
The Goldin family also held a special briefing for senior representatives from countries including members of the UN Security Council. The diplomatic efforts are intended to increase the pressure from member-states and demand action from the UN.
Hadar was killed and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Gaza during a UN-sponsored ceasefire on August 1, 2014.
"Hamas used a UN-sponsored humanitarian ceasefire to kill and kidnap Hadar and we hold them responsible for his return,” the Goldin family told the diplomats.
"The terrorists are holding our son's body hostage to blackmail Israel and release convicted terrorists. This terrible situation is a humanitarian crime and the international community must act to rectify it. We expect the same international community which is providing humanitarian aid to Gaza to pressure Hamas and demand the return of our sons," the Goldin family continued.
“The bodies of Hadar and Oron have been held for more than three years by a terrorist organization. It is despicable. No country should remain indifferent to this situation,” Ambassador Danon said.
"The international community must intervene and exert pressure on Hamas in order to bring them back to Israel. We will not rest until Hadar and Oron are returned for proper burial," he added.
(Arutz Sheva’s North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)