Terrorist indicted for holding fallen soldier Oron Shaul's body for 10 years

After nearly a decade, the body of fallen Israeli soldier St.-Sgt. Oron Shaul has been returned to Israel. An indictment was filed Tuesday against Ibrahim Hilo, a Hamas operative accused of holding Shaul's remains in Gaza for almost 10 years.

Hilo, a member of Hamas's Shati Battalion, was captured during a secret operation. Interrogation of Hilo provided crucial intelligence that led to the recovery of Shaul's remains. The indictment, filed by the Southern District Attorney's Office, accuses Hilo of serious security offenses.

Shaul, 20, was killed on July 20, 2014, along with six other soldiers when their armored personnel carrier was struck by a Kornet anti-tank missile fired by Hamas in the Shejaia neighborhood. His body was recovered in January 2025 during a special operation involving special forces units, just before a ceasefire took effect.

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I am in shock. I’ve been waiting for Oron for 10 and a half years. And believe me, I didn’t believe I would see this moment.

"I am in shock," said Zehava Shaul, Oron's mother, at a press conference following the announcement of her son's retrieval. "I've been waiting for Oron for 10 and a half years. And believe me, I didn’t believe I would see this moment."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the operation, stating, "In a special operation conducted by the Shin Bet and the IDF just before the ceasefire took effect, we successfully brought back to Israel the body of Golani Brigade soldier Oron Shaul, of blessed memory."

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In a special operation conducted by the Shin Bet and the IDF just before the ceasefire took effect, we successfully brought back to Israel the body of Golani Brigade soldier Oron Shaul, of blessed memory.