Israel announced on Sunday that it had recovered, during a “special operation” in Gaza, the remains of an Israeli soldier killed in action in 2014 and held by Hamas ever since.
“During the night (of Saturday to Sunday), in a special operation by the Shin Bet (Israel's internal security agency) and the army (...) we brought the body of (Sergeant) Oron Shaul back to Israel,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
The army had previously announced the return of the body that had been held by Hamas since the 2014 war.
This operation comes on the eve of the implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza, following more than 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas.
Shaul’s family was informed of the return of his remains once they had been formally identified, the army said.
In a television statement, Rear Admiral and Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari welcomed the operation, made possible by “a very significant intelligence effort [...] throughout the last decade [...] and especially during the [ongoing war triggered on October 7, 2023].”
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