The Israeli military says special forces have recovered the body of a soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza war and who has been held hostage by Hamas since then.

A statement said the body of Sergeant Oron Shaul was discovered by the Israeli military and Shin Bet security services during a “covert special operation” in Gaza.

His family was informed after identification procedures were carried out by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and military rabbis, the statement added.

Hamas had been expected to hand over al-Shaul’s body as part of a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, which was due to be implemented on Sunday morning but has been delayed.

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari said that Shaul was “killed in action” on July 20, 2014, in the Shedjaya district of eastern Gaza City and “kidnapped by the Hamas terrorist organization.” .

“This is a critical intelligence and operational mission that has continued over the past decade since his fall and abduction, particularly during the war and over the past few days,” he told the briefing.

He said the operation to bring Shaul’s body home for burial was carried out by special forces from the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate, Shayetet 13 Marine Commandos and Shin Bet agents.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the special forces for their “resourcefulness and courage.”

Photos of Shaul and Goldin “have sat in my office for years as daily testimony of my commitment to bringing them home,” he said.

He added: “We have completed our mission to bring back Oren and we will not rest until we have completed our mission to bring back Hadar Goldin.”

“We will continue to take action to repatriate all hostages, living and dead.”

Shortly after Netanyahu issued a statement Gaza ceasefire to be delayed until Hamas confirms names of first hostages it plans to release in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas blamed technical problems for the failure to hand over the list and said it remained committed to the deal.

Israel launched an operation to destroy Hamas in response to the attack on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took another 251 hostage.

Nearly 46,900 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Most of the 2.3 million people have been displaced, causing widespread destruction and severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter as aid is difficult to reach those in need.

Israel says 94 hostages are still being held by Hamas, 34 of whom are presumed dead.

The first six weeks of the ceasefire deal are supposed to see 33 hostages – including women, children and the elderly – exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Israeli troops will also withdraw to the east, away from Gaza’s densely populated areas, while displaced Palestinians will be allowed to begin returning to their homes, with hundreds of aid trucks being allowed into the area each day.

The second phase of negotiations will begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire, when the remaining hostages will be released, Israeli troops will fully withdraw, and “sustainable calm” will be restored.

The third and final phase will involve the reconstruction of Gaza, which could take years, and the return of the bodies of the remaining hostages.