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 Sergeant Oron Shaul were found during a “covert special operation” carried out 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 Legal Medicine and the Military Rabbinate, he added.

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

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

“This was an important operational and intelligence task that lasted for the last decade since his fall and kidnapping, and especially during the war and in the last few days,” he said in a briefing.

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

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

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

“We have completed the mission of bringing back Oron and we will not rest until we also complete the mission of bringing back Hadar Goldin,” he added.

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

Netanyahu issued the statement shortly after saying The start of the ceasefire in Gaza 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 providing the list and said it was still committed to the deal.

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

Since then, nearly 46,900 people have died in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s Health Ministry. Most of the 2.3 million inhabitants have been displaced, there is widespread destruction and severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter as the 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.

In the first six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement, 33 hostages – including women, children and the elderly – should be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Israeli forces will also withdraw eastwards, away from 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 allow for the release of the remaining hostages, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and a return to “sustainable calm”, will begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire.

The third and final stage will involve rebuilding Gaza – something that could take years – and returning the bodies of the remaining hostages.