With the opening ceremony of the Final Peace Exhibition, the European Parliament paid respect to fallen soldier and victim of terror Hadar Goldin, whose remains are still being held captive in the hands of Hamas terrorists. The ceremony took place just hours before Strasbourg was hit by a terror attack on Tuesday, and just before Hamas took responsibility for the death of the baby killed in the Ofra attack.

​”How horrendous and worrying that terror has claimed lives again, and how tragic and moving that the parents of Hadar Goldin live through the pain every day as the remains of their son are still being held captive in the hands of those who killed him”, says Member of European Parliament Bastiaan Belder (ECR, NL), co-host of the exhibition.

The European Parliament’s Vice-President for Human Rights, Pavel Telička, who granted his patronage to the exhibition at the European Parliament, stressed the need for the international community to step up efforts to bring to a close the humanitarian case after years of waiting for the family.

“We must all remember Hadar and continue fighting to preserve his memory and push to ensure his body is returned to his family for a proper and humane burial,” says Dr. Moshe Kantor, President of the European Jewish Congress. “This ceremony sends an important message that even in the face of terror, both in Strasbourg and in Israel, we will not be bowed or silenced and we will continue to condemn and abhor these cowardly murders.”

Hadar’s parents, Leah and Simha Goldin, who travelled to Strasbourg for the opening ceremony, expressed appreciation for the strong support and continuous effort of the European Parliament for the case of their son and upholding universal humanitarian values.

“Hadar’s parents have fought tirelessly for something they should never have to: the right to bring Hadar home. Our moral duty is to stand with them”, added Nuno Wahnon Martins, Director of EU affairs, at the inauguration ceremony on behalf of the European Jewish Congress as collaborating partner.

The 23-year old Israeli Lieutenant Hadar Goldin was killed by Hamas two hours into a humanitarian ceasefire in 2014 and the terrorist organisation has ever since refused to return his remains for proper burial. The European Parliament has taken a strong stance in both a resolution (April) and hearing (June) this year, calling for the remains of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, and the two missing citizens, to be returned immediately and for the international community to live up to its responsibility and duty as trustee of international humanitarian law.

The exhibition, featuring some 20 fine art pieces by Hadar Goldin, under the patronage of EP Vice-President for Human Rights MEP Pavel Telička, was co-hosted by MEP Bastiaan Belder (ECR), Vice-President MEP Ioan Paşcu (S&D), MEP Cristian Preda (EPP) and MEP Anders Vistisen (ECR), in collaboration with the European Jewish Congress. The exhibition will travel further across Europe, expressing a hope to bring Hadar home for final rest.

Pictures from the Opening ceremony of the exhibition ‘Hadar: The Final Peace’ : https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/opening-ceremony-of-exhibition-hadar-the-final-peace_EP-080724A_c