IDF recovers fallen soldier Oron Shaul’s body in decade-long covert operation in Gaza

The IDF announced Sunday morning that a special IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) covert operation received the body of fallen soldier Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul in the Gaza Strip. 

Oron fell in battle in Shejaiya on July 20, 2014, during Operation “Protective Edge,” and his body was abducted by the Hamas terrorist organization. 

The operation to recover Shaul’s body was a joint operation between the IDF and Shin Bet, and was carried out by special operations units, including Shayetet 13, the Navy’s special forces unit, along with an elite force from the Military Intelligence Directorate. The units worked intensively over the past few days to locate Oron’s body to bring him home for burial. 

Shaul’s body was taken to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, where his identity was confirmed. IDF and ISA representatives delivered the news to the Shaul family this morning. 

“We embrace the family and share their grief,” the IDF said in a statement. 

The military described the operation as “a significant intelligence and operational undertaking that lasted over the past decade.” The IDF began gathering intelligence to locate his body since his death and continued that search, even during the current war and over the past few days. 

"The IDF and ISA worked around the clock for many years to bring Oron, may his memory be a blessing, to burial in Israel,” the military spokesman said. 

During Operation “Protective Edge,” troops from the Golani Brigade entered the northern Gaza neighborhood of Shejaiya in an armored personnel carrier (APC), which became stuck while driving through the narrow streets. When Hamas terrorists realized the situation, they attacked the APC with a Kornet anti-tank missile. 

Seven soldiers, including Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul, were killed in the incident. Shaul’s body was dragged away by Hamas terrorists before the IDF was able to extract all the soldiers. 

About one month later, the body of another soldier, Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, was also abducted. The IDF said it “has been working for years to bring him back, and this morning, we reiterate our commitment to Hadar and his dear family to bring him home.” 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the IDF for returning Shaul’s body. 

“I embrace the dear Shaul family, and congratulate the Shin Bet and IDF forces for their resourcefulness and courage,” Netanyahu said in a statement. 

“The IDF is deeply committed to returning all hostages. The IDF and ISA will continue to make every effort to bring all the hostages home, whether through operational and intelligence actions or as part of the agreement,” the statement read. 

Following the announcement of the return of Oron Shaul’s body, the IDF announced that it would not implement the ceasefire agreement as long as Hamas does not provide a list of the hostages to be released, as agreed in the negotiations. 

“This morning, we all expect the implementation of the agreement to return the hostages. As of this morning, Hamas has not fulfilled its obligation, and contrary to the agreement, has not provided the State of Israel with the names of the returning female hostages. The ceasefire will not come into effect so long as Hamas does not fulfill its obligations. At the direction of the Prime Minister, the IDF will continue to operate in the Gaza Strip area as long as Hamas does not fulfill its obligations, with all that this entails,” the statement read.