Israel identifies remains of soldier killed in 2014 as fragile Gaza ceasefire holds

Israel said on Sunday forensic test confirmed the remains handed over by Hamas earlier in the day were those of Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier killed by the Palestinian group in 2014.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement the identification process had been completed. "The Government of Israel expresses its deep condolences to the Goldin family and to all the families of the fallen hostages," it said.

"IDF (Israel Defense Forces) representatives informed the family of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin that his body had been returned for burial," the military said in a statement.

Goldin, 23, was killed by Hamas fighters about an hour after a ceasefire took effect following one of the previous Israeli military campaigns in Gaza. His family conducted a public campaign for 11 years to bring back his remains.

The recovery of his body was part of an exchange amid a ceasefire that took effect on October 10 this year. Hamas has released 20 living hostages and the remains of 24 others. Four bodies are still held in Gaza – three Israelis and one Thai national abducted during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.

Gaza's health authorities said Israel has released the bodies of about 300 Palestinians, most of whom have yet to be identified.

Meanwhile, Israel has continued strikes and demolitions in Gaza, killing hundreds. Gaza's health authorities on Saturday put the overall death toll from Israeli strikes since October 2023 at 69,169.

As the fragile ceasefire marks one month, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Sunday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the truce in the Gaza Strip.

During a phone conversation, the two officials also discussed developments regarding the ongoing consultations on the implementation of U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

They stressed the necessity of linking the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to ensure the unity of the Palestinian territories, highlighting the importance of Palestinians assuming management of their affairs while preserving the unity of Palestinian decision-making.

Both sides discussed the ongoing consultations in the United Nations Security Council concerning the deployment of the international forces in Gaza, stressing the need to define its mandate and powers in a manner that supports early recovery and reconstruction efforts.

They also reviewed the situation in the West Bank, emphasizing their unequivocal rejection of all settlement activities and repeated violations that undermine peace prospects and escalate tension.

(With input from agencies)