Israel recovered body of slain soldierOron Shaul, held by Hamas since 2014, moments before cease-fire went into effect

The Israeli military has recovered the body of slain Staff Sgt.Oron Shaul, whose remains have been held by Hamas since 2014, just before Sunday’s cease-fire deal went into effect.Shaul’s remains were found in the Gaza Strip during a joint “covert, special operation” by the Israeli Defense Forces and the Shin Bet intelligence agency, the military said.

Shaul, 20, who was killed during an operation in Gaza city during the 2014 conflict, was expected to be among the hostages eventually released as part of the breakthrough cease-fire agreement, but IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the deceased soldier will be returning home early.“This was a significant intelligence and operational undertaking that lasted over the past decade since his fall and abduction, and especially during the war and over the past few days,” Hagari said during a Sunday night news conference.The operation to recover Shaul’s body was carried over the weekend by the Israeli Navy’s Shayetet 13 commando unit and Shin Bet’s elite forces, IDF officials said.The search was carried out in northern Gaza, from which the IDF is withdrawing and where Hamas has maintained a stronghold after resurfacing following months of prolonged war.Shaul’s body was then brought back to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, where his identity was confirmed and his family contacted.Shaul was one of two slain IDF soldiers whose bodies have been held hostage in Gaza for more than a decade, the other being Lt.

Hadar Goldin.“We have completed the mission to bring back Oron and will not rest until we also complete the mission to bring back Hadar Goldin,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.“We will continue to act to return all of our hostages, the living and the deceased,” he added.

Defense Minister Israel Katz also touted the successful operation, as well as the Shaul family’s advocacy as they “never stopped working to bring their son home.” Following Sunday’s cease-...