When Lt. Eitan realized that Lt. Hadar Goldin was kidnapped and pulled into a Hamas terror tunnel in Rafah during the cease fire, he grabbed his soldiers and jumped into the tunnels to chase after them and try to save Lt. Hadar Goldin.
The chase led them into a maze of tunnels 20 meters underground. It was there that they found the personal effects of Lt. Goldin from which the IDF was able to determine that Goldin had not survived the attack. He and his soldiers, with no radio contact with above, searched hundreds of meters of the tunnel maze for Goldin.
Lt. Eitan (24) serves as Deputy Commander of a Pulsar Givati reconnaissance unit.
He grew up in Jerusalem and is a graduate of Yeshivat Horev. His parents, Simcha and Susan, are Olim from New York (1985).
His commanding officers have recommended that he receive a medal for his bravery and actions.