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Israel-Gaza conflict: Israeli military names soldier who has been confirmed as ‘missing’ after Hamas celebrates alleged kidnap Israel-Gaza conflict: Israeli military names soldier Oron Shaul confirmed as ‘missing’ after Hamas celebrates alleged kidnap
(about 3 hours later)
The Israeli military has confirmed the identity of one of its soldiers who is reported “missing” following fighting in the Gaza Strip.The Israeli military has confirmed the identity of one of its soldiers who is reported “missing” following fighting in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said 21-year-old Sergeant Oron Shaul had been among the seven Israeli soldiers feared dead following a rocket strike on an armoured personnel carrier on 20 July, but that his body was unaccounted for.The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said 21-year-old Sergeant Oron Shaul had been among the seven Israeli soldiers feared dead following a rocket strike on an armoured personnel carrier on 20 July, but that his body was unaccounted for.
Reports of a missing soldier have fuelled fears in Israel of what would be a nightmare scenario for the ongoing offensive.Reports of a missing soldier have fuelled fears in Israel of what would be a nightmare scenario for the ongoing offensive.
Capturing soldiers is one of Hamas’s highest-priority goals, as doing so raises the prospect of prisoner exchanges for disproportionately vast numbers of Palestinian detainees.Capturing soldiers is one of Hamas’s highest-priority goals, as doing so raises the prospect of prisoner exchanges for disproportionately vast numbers of Palestinian detainees.
The reported “kidnap” was celebrated across Gaza yesterday but initially flatly denied by Israel’s ambassador to the UN.The reported “kidnap” was celebrated across Gaza yesterday but initially flatly denied by Israel’s ambassador to the UN.
Hamas named the soldier as “Shaul Aron” and released images appearing to show his military identification – but they did not include any pictures of a soldier alive in their hands.Hamas named the soldier as “Shaul Aron” and released images appearing to show his military identification – but they did not include any pictures of a soldier alive in their hands.
Today, the IDF tweeted: “The seventh soldier is Sgt Oron Shaul, 21, from Poria. We are still working to identify his body.”Today, the IDF tweeted: “The seventh soldier is Sgt Oron Shaul, 21, from Poria. We are still working to identify his body.”
Israeli media reported that while the IDF had said a soldier was missing, he was considered to be presumed dead because it was unlikely anyone would have survived the direct hit on the vehicle in which he was travelling. Palestinians celebrate in the West Bank city of Ramallah, late July 21, 2014, after Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said it had captured an Israeli soldier Israeli media reported that while the IDF had said a soldier was missing, he was considered to be presumed dead because it was unlikely anyone would have survived the direct hit on the vehicle in which he was travelling.
The seventh soldier is Sgt. Oron Shaul, 21, from Poria. We are still working to identify his body.
For the Israeli campaign, a captured soldier would be a disaster and pile a huge amount of public pressure on the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.For the Israeli campaign, a captured soldier would be a disaster and pile a huge amount of public pressure on the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The seventh soldier is Sgt. Oron Shaul, 21, from Poria. We are still working to identify his body.
In 2011, Mr Netanyahu agreed to free more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in order to secure the release of just a single soldier who had been held in Gaza for more than five years. Officials have since said they are desperate to avoid a repeat of such a drawn-out process.In 2011, Mr Netanyahu agreed to free more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in order to secure the release of just a single soldier who had been held in Gaza for more than five years. Officials have since said they are desperate to avoid a repeat of such a drawn-out process.
But even the loss of a dead soldier would be considered a failure on the Israeli military's part. Prisoner exchanges in the past have included the return of bodies to Israel for a proper burial.But even the loss of a dead soldier would be considered a failure on the Israeli military's part. Prisoner exchanges in the past have included the return of bodies to Israel for a proper burial.
Yesterday a confident-sounding Hamas told Israel to withdraw from Gaza as a result of the alleged kidnap. Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesperson for the group, said: “Israel has terribly failed and we advise them to take their soldiers and leave before we kidnap more soldiers in addition to the scores we have already killed and wounded.”Yesterday a confident-sounding Hamas told Israel to withdraw from Gaza as a result of the alleged kidnap. Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesperson for the group, said: “Israel has terribly failed and we advise them to take their soldiers and leave before we kidnap more soldiers in addition to the scores we have already killed and wounded.”