Israeli Forces Recover Body of Soldier Oron Shaul Held by Hamas Since 2014
The remains of Staff Sgt Oron Shaul have been retrieved in a covert operation, ahead of a delayed ceasefire in Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have announced the successful recovery of the body of Staff Sgt Oron Shaul, an Israeli soldier killed during the 2014 Gaza war.
Shaul's body had been held by Hamas for nearly a decade before its retrieval in a carefully executed covert operation involving the IDF's Military Intelligence Directorate, the Shayetet 13 marine commando unit, and Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service.
Shaul was one of four Israeli individuals held by Hamas, with his remains identified by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Military Rabbinate.
The recovery operation was part of ongoing efforts by Israel following the group's assault on October 7, 2023.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the operation, underscoring his long-standing commitment to bringing home both living and deceased hostages held by Hamas.
Photographs of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, another soldier whose body is yet to be retrieved, have been on display in Netanyahu's office as a reminder of this commitment.
The operation's news comes amid a delayed ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which was initially meant to begin on a Sunday morning.
It has been postponed due to Hamas citing technical difficulties in finalizing the list of hostages to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Israel's campaign to neutralize Hamas followed the October 7 attack that resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 Israelis and led to 251 hostages being taken.
Since the conflict's resurgence, nearly 46,900 people have died in Gaza, per figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.
The region, home to 2.3 million people, is ravaged by displacement, destruction, and critical shortages of essentials due to the difficulty in delivering aid.
As of now, 94 hostages remain with Hamas, according to Israel, with 34 of them presumed dead.
The initial six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement aims to facilitate the exchange of 33 hostages, primarily women, children, and the elderly, for Palestinian prisoners.
It also includes provisions for Israeli forces to withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza, the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the region.
Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire are set to begin on the 16th day, which will focus on the release of remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, aiming towards sustainable calm.
The final stage is planned to address the reconstruction of Gaza, a process anticipated to take several years, and the repatriation of any remaining hostages' bodies.
Shaul's body had been held by Hamas for nearly a decade before its retrieval in a carefully executed covert operation involving the IDF's Military Intelligence Directorate, the Shayetet 13 marine commando unit, and Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service.
Shaul was one of four Israeli individuals held by Hamas, with his remains identified by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Military Rabbinate.
The recovery operation was part of ongoing efforts by Israel following the group's assault on October 7, 2023.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the operation, underscoring his long-standing commitment to bringing home both living and deceased hostages held by Hamas.
Photographs of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, another soldier whose body is yet to be retrieved, have been on display in Netanyahu's office as a reminder of this commitment.
The operation's news comes amid a delayed ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which was initially meant to begin on a Sunday morning.
It has been postponed due to Hamas citing technical difficulties in finalizing the list of hostages to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Israel's campaign to neutralize Hamas followed the October 7 attack that resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 Israelis and led to 251 hostages being taken.
Since the conflict's resurgence, nearly 46,900 people have died in Gaza, per figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.
The region, home to 2.3 million people, is ravaged by displacement, destruction, and critical shortages of essentials due to the difficulty in delivering aid.
As of now, 94 hostages remain with Hamas, according to Israel, with 34 of them presumed dead.
The initial six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement aims to facilitate the exchange of 33 hostages, primarily women, children, and the elderly, for Palestinian prisoners.
It also includes provisions for Israeli forces to withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza, the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the region.
Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire are set to begin on the 16th day, which will focus on the release of remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, aiming towards sustainable calm.
The final stage is planned to address the reconstruction of Gaza, a process anticipated to take several years, and the repatriation of any remaining hostages' bodies.