Joint IDF and ISA Announcement:
It has been cleared for publication that in a covert, special operation conducted by IDF and ISA special forces in the Gaza Strip, the IDF recovered the body of fallen IDF soldier Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul, who fell in combat in Shejaiya on July 20, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, and his body was abducted by the Hamas terrorist organization.
The efforts to return him, including the gathering of intelligence by the Hostages and Missing Persons Unit and the Special Operations Unit in the Intelligence Directorate, continued for over a decade and during this war.
Following an identification procedure carried out by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Military Rabbinate, IDF and ISA representatives updated the family this morning (Sunday).
The IDF and ISA send their heartfelt condolences to the family.
The IDF and ISA are continuing to operate in order to bring home all the hostages as soon as possible.
IDF: Following the sirens that sounded at 9:00 in Sderot and Ibim, it was determined to be a false identification.
IDF: The IDF is continuing to operate and strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip.
A short while ago, IDF artillery and aircraft struck a number of terror targets in northern and central Gaza.
The IDF remains ready in defense and offense and will not allow any harm to the citizens of Israel.
IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari:
“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.”
Attached is a briefing by the IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari: https://bit.ly/4hoVnuB
Please find attached the translation of a briefing by the IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari:
Good morning,
This morning it was cleared for publication that in a special IDF and ISA covert operation, the abducted fallen soldier Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul, Oron, who fell in battle in Shejaiya on July 20th, 2014, during Operation “Protective Edge,” and was abducted by the Hamas terrorist organization, was rescued from Gaza.
IDF and ISA representatives delivered the news to the Shaul family this morning. We embrace the family and share their grief.
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. The IDF and ISA worked around the clock for many years to bring Oron, may his memory be a blessing, to burial in Israel.
This special operation was conducted by special units from the Military Intelligence Directorate, Shayetet 13, and with ISA operatives on the ground. They worked intensively in recent days in a complex operational effort to do everything possible to bring Oron home for burial.
During Operation “Protective Edge,” the fallen soldier Lieutenant Hadar Goldin was also abducted. The IDF 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.
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.
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.
IDF: The Chief of the General Staff to Soldiers of the Nahal Brigade in the Gaza Strip: “We would not have reached an agreement under these terms if Hamas had not been in such a difficult situation”
This week, the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, visited the soldiers of the Nahal Brigade in the Beit Hanoun area of the Gaza Strip and held a situational assessment along with the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, MG Yaron Finkelman, the Commanding Officer of the 162nd Division, BG Itzik Cohen, the Commanding Officer of the Nahal Brigade, and additional commanders.
The Chief of the General Staff spoke with the soldiers of the brigade and praised them for their significant operations in the area.
Attached is a video from the remarks of the Chief of the General Staff: https://bit.ly/3PJ76Z4
Attached are the full remarks of the Chief of the General Staff: “We are very resolute with Hamas in order to achieve the terms we want, and we will remain very resolute moving forward, as I will explain this to you shortly. Look, we would not have reached an agreement under these terms if Hamas had not been in such a difficult situation, and we see this. It’s you that brought Hamas to such a difficult situation, along with other troops, strikes, intelligence, and continuous action, I don’t need to tell you. In my opinion, since October 6th (2024), when we began the operation in the northern Gaza Strip, we have killed approximately 3,000 terrorists, apprehended hundreds, and we take pride in stepping back to extend a hand in order to bring home dozens of living hostages, and we will also take pride and be determined to return going forward to fighting. This is very, very impressive, I’m telling you. Right now, this is our position of strength, and look, when our people—civilians, soldiers—are held by the enemy in very harsh conditions, we also bear responsibility for the fact that they are there. We are proud to make the effort to bring them home.”
IDF: Attached are the following:
Footage from the initial reception facility where the hostages will arrive: https://bit.ly/4gZkCUj
Photos from the initial reception facility where the hostages will arrive: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/ANC89546798
Joint IDF and ISA Announcement:
The Red Cross has communicated that the three Israeli hostages were transferred to them and are on their way toward IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip.
Joint IDF and ISA Announcement:
The Three Released Hostages are Currently Being Transferred to IDF and ISA Forces in the Gaza Strip
The three released hostages are being accompanied by IDF special forces and ISA forces on their return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment.
The commanders and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces salute and embrace the released hostages as they make their way home to the State of Israel.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit asks everyone to respect the privacy of the released hostages and their families.
Joint IDF and ISA Announcement:
The Three Released Hostages Have Crossed Into Israeli Territory With IDF and ISA Forces
A short while ago, accompanied by IDF and ISA forces, the released hostages crossed the border into Israeli territory.
The released hostages are currently on their way to an initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment.
IDF: Attached is footage of the families of the hostages watching them as they join IDF soldiers: https://bit.ly/3PDzXOu
IDF: The three released hostages have arrived at the initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will be reunited with their mothers.
IDF officers from the Manpower Directorate and IDF medical officials are accompanying the released hostages during an initial medical assessment.
IDF representatives are accompanying their families at the hospital and updating them with the latest available information.
IDF: “We cannot imagine the horrors these three young women have endured in 15 months of Hamas captivity. Today, we salute and embrace them and their families as they reunite after so long.”
Attached is an English video announcement of the IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari: https://bit.ly/40m0c0I
Attached is the full transcript: https://www.idf.il/265044
IDF: The three released hostages, together with their mothers, just landed at a hospital, where they will be reunited with the rest of their families and receive medical treatment.
The IDF, ISA, the Mossad, and Israeli health authorities are ready to continue receiving additional hostages and are operating to bring home all the hostages.
IDF: Attached is Footage from Commanders’ Situational Assessments Over the Past 24 Hours
Footage of the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, MG Yaron Finkelman, in the command center: https://bit.ly/4jgaVm9
Footage of the Head of the Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters, MG Lior Carmeli, during a situational assessment: https://bit.ly/40qnCSu
Footage of Major General (Res.) Nitzan Alon during a discussion at the Hostage and Missing Persons Headquarters: https://bit.ly/4alKcR3
