A Hamas terrorist believed to hold critical information about the fate of Lt. Hadar Goldin was captured in a covert IDF–Shin Bet operation in Rafah, the security services announced.

According to the joint statement, Marwan al-Hams was arrested in July 2025 during a special intelligence-based operation led by IDF forces from the Southern Command, the Shin Bet, and IDF Intelligence.

Al-Hams was involved in determining Lt. Goldin’s death during the 2014 battle in Rafah and is suspected of knowing the location of his burial inside the “White-Crowned” tunnel, where Goldin was taken after being abducted by Hamas terrorists.

Security officials said the arrest was one of dozens of classified operations carried out over the past six months as part of a broad, ongoing effort to locate and bring Lt. Goldin home for burial in Israel.

The statement noted that al-Hams played a direct role in battlefield decisions at the time of Goldin’s abduction and was considered a key figure in the events that unfolded inside the tunnel.

The intelligence gathered during the prolonged operation in Rafah led to the successful apprehension, marking a significant development in Israel’s continued mission to return its fallen soldiers.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)