Israeli forces have recovered the body of a soldier kept in Gaza since 2014

Israel’s 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 by the Israeli army and the Shin Bet security service during a “special covert operation” in Gaza, according to a statement.

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

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

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said Shaul “fell in combat” in the Shejaiya neighborhood of eastern Gaza City on July 20, 2014 and was “kidnapped by the terrorist organization Hamas.”

“It was a significant intelligence and operational engagement over the last decade since his fall and abduction, and especially during the war and the last days,” he said in a speech.

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

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

Photos of Shaul and Goldin “sat in my office for many years before me as a daily testimony of my commitment to return home.”

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

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

Netanyahu issued a statement shortly after he said The start of the Gaza ceasefire was to 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 terrorist attack in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and another 251 were taken hostage.

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

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

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

Negotiations for the second phase – which would require the release of the remaining hostages, the withdrawal of all Israeli troops and the return of “lasting calm” – will begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire.

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