Israeli forces have discovered the body of a soldier held in Gaza since 2014

Israel's military says special forces have recovered the body of a soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza war who has since been held hostage by Hamas.

The remains of Sergeant Oron Shaul were found during a “covert special operation” by the Israeli army and the Shin Bet security service in Gaza, according to a statement.

His family has been informed following an identification procedure carried out by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Military Rabbi, it added.

Hamas was expected to hand over Shaul's remains as part of a new deal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release that was due to be implemented on Sunday morning, but was delayed.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Shaul “fell in battle” in the eastern Shejaya neighborhood of Gaza City on July 20, 2014. and “was kidnapped by the terrorist organization Hamas.”

“This has been a significant intelligence and operational endeavor that has gone on over the last decade since his fall and abduction, and especially during the war and in the last few days,” he told a briefing.

The operation to bring Shaul's body home for burial was carried out by special forces from the IDF's Directorate of Military Intelligence, the Shayetet 13 Marine Commando Unit and Shin Bet operatives, he said.

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

He said the pictures of Shaul and Goldin “have been in front of me in my office for many years as a daily testimony of my commitment to bring them home.”

“We have completed the mission to return Oron, and we will not rest until we have also completed the mission to return Hadar Goldin,” he added.

“We will continue to act to return all our hostages, living and deceased.

Netanyahu made the statement shortly after saying start of 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 failing to deliver the list and said it was still committed to the deal.

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

Almost 46,900 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry. Most of the population of 2.3 million have been displaced, there is widespread destruction and there are severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter due to the struggle to get aid to those in need.

Israel claims 94 of the hostages are still being held by Hamas, of whom 34 are believed to be dead.

The first six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement is to see 33 hostages – including women, children and the elderly – exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Israeli forces will also withdraw to the east, away from densely populated areas of Gaza, while displaced Palestinians can begin to return to their homes and hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks will be allowed into the territory each day.

Negotiations for the second phase – which should lead to the release of the remaining hostages, the full withdrawal of Israeli troops and a return to “sustainable calm” – will begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire.

The third and final stage will involve the rebuilding of Gaza – something that could take years – and the return of any remaining bodies of hostages.