Israel announced on Sunday that it had recovered the body of Oron Shaul, an Israeli soldier who had been detained in Gaza since 2014.
“In a secret special operation carried out in the Gaza Strip by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and ISA (Shin Bet) special forces, the body of fallen IDF soldier Oron Shaul was recovered,” the military said in a statement regarding X. said.
According to the IDF, he “fell in action” in Shejaya on July 20, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, also known as the 2014 Gaza War.
It added: “His body was abducted by the terrorist organization Hamas.”
Authorized for publication: The body of fallen IDF soldier SSGT Oron Shor was recovered in a secret special operation carried out by IDF and ISA special forces in Gaza.
Oron was killed in action in Shejaya on July 20, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge. His body was kidnapped by someone… pic.twitter.com/71ho74LJNV— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 19, 2025
“Efforts to return him, including information gathering, continued for more than 10 years during this war,” it added.
motion protection edge
On July 7, 2014, Israel launched an air campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Israel said the operation, dubbed Operation Protective Edge, was launched in June and early July 2014 “in response to increased rocket and mortar fire against Israeli towns” from the Gaza Strip. , said it began despite Israel's “continued efforts” to de-escalate tensions. .
The conflict ended on August 26 with an unconditional ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
New Gaza ceasefire begins after a delay
Israel began a ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, about three hours later than originally scheduled.
The implementation of the ceasefire was delayed after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Hamas to provide the names of three hostages that Hamas was scheduled to release on Sunday as part of the deal (6 p.m. Japan time). 30 minutes) occurred one hour before the deadline.
Hamas said it was committed to a ceasefire but could not provide a list of hostages for “technical reasons”, without providing further details. Names were then shared and a ceasefire finally began at 9:15 a.m. GMT.
In the first exchange, three Israeli hostages were to be released from captivity in exchange for the first group of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel-Hamas-Gaza ceasefire
A total of 33 hostages captured by Hamas in an attack on Israeli cities on October 7, 2023, are scheduled to be returned from Gaza during the initial 42-day ceasefire period.
Under the agreement, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners of war will also be released from Israeli prisons.
Hamas attacks killed 1,210 people, mostly civilians. Of the 251 hostages taken, 94 remain in Gaza, including 34 who the Israeli military says are dead.
Negotiations on the second phase of the deal are expected to begin by the 16th, and are likely to include the release of all remaining hostages.
The third phase will include the return of all remaining bodies and the start of rebuilding Gaza.