After 11 Years: Israel Reveals Shocking Details of Tunnel Where Hostage Golden Was Held

In an operation led by the Southern Command involving fighters from the Commando Formation, the "Yahalom" Unit, and the "Shayetet 13" Unit, Israeli forces in southern Rafah revealed the underground path where hostage Hadar Golden was held during recent years before his return, according to a report by the Hebrew newspaper "Maariv."

The length of the path exceeded 10 kilometers and included 3 levels, with the deepest located at a depth of 30 meters. The path passed beneath a densely populated residential neighborhood near the Philadelphia Axis and extended through sensitive civilian areas, including a compound belonging to UNRWA, mosques, medical clinics, kindergartens, and schools.

Closure of the "Dror Lavan" Tunnel

In detail, at the end of June 2026, Israeli forces in southern Rafah revealed the underground path where Lieutenant Hadar Golden was held during recent years.

Forces worked to close the path, which exceeded 16 kilometers in length, using more than 30,000 cubic meters of concrete.

In November 2025, after 11 years, and just hours after the return of hostage Hadar Golden's body, the combat team of the Nachal Brigade destroyed the tunnel opening from which he was abducted.

After completing identification procedures by the National Forensic Medicine Center, in cooperation with the Israeli Police and the Military Rabbinate, representatives of the Israeli military informed the family of hostage Hadar Golden that the latter had been returned for burial.