Muslim Leaders in U.S. Urge Hamas to Release Israeli Soldiers’ Bodies

In a humanitarian appeal, a group of Muslim leaders in the U.S. have sent a letter to Hamas urging the return of the remains of two soldiers, Hadar Goldin, Hy”d, and Oron Shaul, Hy”d.

The 10 Muslim leaders, including both Muslims in Congress, wrote to Hamas official Khaled Meshal: “…We appeal to you on the basis of humanity and charity to release the remains of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, two Israeli soldiers killed in action, to their families.”

They said the letter was sent on Sept. 21, but was only made public on Sunday, at the annual Washington conference of the Israeli-American Council, where Goldin’s parents were in attendance. No mention was made of any reply from the terrorist leader.

Signatories include Reps. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and Andre Carson, D-Ind., the two Muslim congressmen; M. Ali Chaudry, the former mayor of Basking Ridge, N.J.; Sayyid Syeed, the director of interfaith alliances at the Islamic Society of North America; and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who directed an unsuccessful and controversial effort to build an Islamic community center near the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York.

“Both Israelis and Palestinians have felt the pain of war, of losing loved ones and children far too soon,” the letter said, and invoked the religious tradition that conciliators will be rewarded.

Shaul and Goldin were killed during the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.