The IDF and Shin Bet Spokesperson announced on Sunday morning that they recovered the body of fallen IDF soldier Oron Shaul. His body had been held captive in Gaza by Hamas since 2014. He was 21-years-old at the time.
Joint Statement by the IDF Spokesperson and Shin Bet Spokesperson:
It has been cleared for publication that in a special covert operation by the IDF and Shin Bet, the remains of Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul (of blessed memory), who fell in battle in Shejaiya on July 20, 2014, during Operation “Protective Edge,” and whose body was abducted by the Hamas terrorist organization, have been recovered.
Efforts to bring him back, including intelligence gathering by the Prisoners and Missing Persons Directorate and the Special Operations Division of Military Intelligence, have continued over the past decade, intensifying during the recent war.
Following an identification process conducted by the Forensic Medicine Institute and the Military Rabbinate, IDF and Shin Bet representatives informed the family this morning.
The IDF and Shin Bet express their condolences to the family and will continue to support them.
The IDF and Shin Bet remain committed to bringing all abductees back home.
Operation “Protective Edge,” launched in the summer of 2014, aimed to curtail Hamas’ rocket fire and destroy its tunnel infrastructure. The operation came at a heavy cost, with 68 Israeli soldiers and 6 civilians losing their lives.
Hamas managed to kidnap Shaul’s body when their APC got stuck in a narrow street. Hamas attacked the APC with anti-tank missiles Seven soldiers were killed and Hamas managed to steal Shaul’s body.
The rescue of his body comes just before Israel is set to release hundreds of murderous terrorists in exchange for 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Defense Minister Israel Katz released a statement:
After more than a decade of pain and anticipation, IDF and Shin Bet fighters have retrieved the body of Golani soldier Oron Shaul, of blessed memory, from Hamas captivity. He fell in the Shuja’iyya battle during Operation Protective Edge. This is a difficult moment, but also one of closure for the Shaul family, who never ceased their efforts to bring their son home.
“I embrace the Shaul family in this painful hour and salute the fighters and commanders of the security forces who worked tirelessly for years to bring Oron to eternal rest in Israel.
My heart is also with the family of Hadar Goldin, of blessed memory, who fell and was abducted in the same operation and has not yet been returned. The State of Israel is committed to doing everything possible to bring him, along with all our captives and missing persons, back home.”
There is no update on the search for Lieutenant Hadar Goldin who was captured and killed by Hamas during the ceasefire of Operation Protective Edge on August 1, 2014.
