Israeli military recovers body of soldier held in Gaza since 2014

The Israeli military announced that special forces have recovered the body of a soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza war, the BBC reported on January 19th.

In a statement, it was confirmed that Staff Sgt Oron Shaul’s remains were retrieved during a “covert, special operation” conducted in Gaza by the Israeli military and the Shin Bet security service.

The National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Military Rabbinate identified the body and Shaul’s family was informed about his body being found.

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IDF spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said Shaul “fell in battle” in Gaza City’s Shejaiya district on July 20th 2014 and was abducted by Hamas. Hagari added: “This was a significant intelligence and operational undertaking that lasted over the past decade since his fall and abduction, and especially during the war and over the past few days.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the operation’s “resourcefulness” and “bravery”. Netanyahu also said photos of Shaul and Goldin have “been before me in my office for many years as daily testimony to my commitment to bring them back home.”

Hamas was expected to return Shaul’s remains as part of their ceasefire agreement with Israel. The deal’s initial phase was set to begin on January 19th but faced delays. Hamas attributed the postponement to “technical problems” in confirming the names of the first hostages it plans to release in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Shaul is one of four Israelis held by Hamas from before the attack of October 7th 2023. The other soldier killed in the 2014 war, was Lt Hadar Goldin. Also included are two civilians – Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed – who entered Gaza individually in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The Israeli government previously stated that both Mengistu and al-Sayed suffered from mental health issues during this period.

BBC