Israeli army recovered the body of a soldier imprisoned in Gaza since 2014

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

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

It said his family was informed following an identification process conducted by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Military Rabbinate.

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

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

“This was a significant intelligence and operational undertaking that spanned the last decade since their fall and abduction, and particularly during the war and in the last few days,” he told a briefing.

The operation to bring Shaul’s body home for burial was carried out by special units of the IDF’s 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 their bravery”.

He said that Shawl and Goldin’s photos “were in front of me in my office for many years as daily testimony to my commitment to bringing them back home”.

He said, “We have accomplished the mission of bringing back Oron and will not rest until we have also accomplished the mission of bringing back Hadar Goldin.”

“We will continue to take action to repatriate all our hostages, living and dead.”

Immediately after he said this, Netanyahu issued a statement The start of the Gaza ceasefire will be delayed until Hamas confirms the names of the first hostages it plans to release In exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas blamed technical problems for the failure to hand over the list and said it was still committed to the deal.

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

About 46,900 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Much of the 2.3 million population has been displaced, there has been widespread destruction, and there are severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter as aid struggles to reach those in need.

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

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

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

Negotiations for the second phase – which should include the release of remaining hostages, the withdrawal of full Israeli forces and a return to “permanent peace” – will begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire.

The third and final phase would involve the reconstruction of Gaza – which could take years – and the return of the bodies of the remaining hostages.