Israeli forces recover body of soldier held in Gaza since 2014

The Israeli military says special forces have recovered the body of a soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza war, who had been held hostage by Hamas since then.

The remains of Sgt Oron Shaul were found during a “secret and special operation” by the Israeli army and the Shin Bet security service in Gaza, according to a statement.

His family was informed after an identification procedure carried out by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Military Rabbinate, he added.

Hamas had been expected to hand over Shaul’s remains as part of the new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, which was meant to be implemented on Sunday morning, but was delayed.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Shaul “fell in battle” in the eastern Shejaiya district of Gaza City on July 20, 2014 and “was abducted by the ‘terrorist organization Hamas’.

“This was a significant intelligence and operational undertaking that lasted in the last decade since his fall and kidnapping, and especially during the war and in the last days,” he told a briefing.

The operation to bring Shaul’s body home for burial was carried out by special units from the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate, the Shayetet 13 marine commando unit and Shin Bet operatives, he said .

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the special forces involved “for their resourcefulness and bravery.”

He said the photos of Shaul and Goldin had “been in front of me in my office for many years as a daily testimony to my commitment to bring them home.”

“We have completed the mission to return Oron and we will not rest until we have also completed the mission to return Hadar Goldin,” he added.

“We will continue to act to return all our hostages, the living and the dead.”

Netanyahu released the statement shortly after he said it the start of the Gaza ceasefire would be delayed until Hamas confirmed the names of the first hostages it planned to release. in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas blamed technical problems for not handing over the list, and said it was still committed to the deal.

Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the attack on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

Nearly 46,900 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas territory’s health ministry. Most of the 2.3 million people have been displaced, there is widespread destruction, and there are serious shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter as a result of a struggle to get aid to those in need.

Israel says 94 of the hostages are still being held by Hamas, of whom 34 are presumed dead.

The six-week first phase of the ceasefire agreement is expected to see 33 hostages – including women, children and the elderly – exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Israeli forces will also withdraw to the east, away from the densely populated areas of Gaza, while displaced Palestinians will be allowed to begin returning to their homes and hundreds of aid trucks will be allowed into the territory each day.

Negotiations for the second phase – which should see the remaining hostages released, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and a return to “lasting calm” – will begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire.

The third and final stage will include the reconstruction of Gaza – something that could take years – and the return of the bodies of the remaining hostages.