Israeli forces found the body of a soldier who had been held in Gaza since 2014

Israel’s military says special forces have discovered 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 “covert special operation” by the Israeli military and Shin Bet security services in Gaza, the statement said.

His family has been notified following an identification process conducted by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Military Medical Examiner’s Office, the statement 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 take effect on Sunday morning but was delayed.

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

“This has been a significant intelligence and operational effort over the last decade since his crash and abduction, and especially during the war and over 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 Military Intelligence Directorate, Marine Corps Unit 13 and Shin Bet operatives, he said.

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

He said the photos of Saul and Goldin “have been in front of me in my office for years as a daily testament to my commitment to bringing them home.”

“We have completed the mission to bring back Aron and we will not rest until we have also completed the mission to bring back Hadar Goldin,” he added.

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

Netanyahu issued a statement shortly after he said Gaza ceasefire to be delayed until Hamas confirms names of first hostages it plans to release in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas blamed technical problems for failing to hand over the list and said it remained committed to the deal.

Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an attack on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.

Nearly 46,900 people have died in Gaza since then, according to the health ministry of the Hamas-run territory. Most of the 2.3 million people have been displaced, there is widespread destruction, and there are severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter as the struggle to help those living in need continues.

Israel says 94 hostages are still being held by Hamas, 34 of whom are believed to be dead.

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

Israeli forces will also withdraw to the east, 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 on the second phase – which should involve the release of the remaining hostages, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces and a return to “sustainable calm” – will begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire.

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