Israel has received the body of Lt. Hadar Goldin, a soldier killed in an ambush by Hamas in 2014 and whose body has been held in Gaza since then.
The Israeli military said Lt. Goldin, who was 23 when he died, was formally identified and will now be buried. He left behind parents, a sister, two brothers, and a fiancée.
Hamas's armed wing had said on Sunday that it would hand over Lt. Goldin's body as part of a ceasefire deal.
Hamas has now returned all 20 living hostages, and 24 out of 28 deceased hostages under the first phase of the deal.
On Sunday, Lt. Goldin's father Simcha Goldin said in a statement: Victory means bringing home the hostages and bringing home our soldiers to Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog both said they had kept a picture of Lt. Goldin in their offices for the past 11 years.
Netanyahu said we didn't give up on bringing him home.
Efforts to retrieve Lt. Goldin involved extensive intelligence efforts, alongside operational activities on the ground over the past decade and during the last two years of war between Israel and Hamas.
The military expressed deep condolences to the family and continues to make every effort to return all the deceased hostages and is prepared for the continued implementation of the agreement.
With Lt. Goldin being the only deceased hostage whose remains were held in Gaza prior to the recent conflict, this event is symbolic of Israel's commitment to returning its soldiers and hostages.
Since the renewed hostilities began on October 7, 2023, casualties have soared and humanitarian efforts remain hampered amidst ongoing violence.
