Secret Operation Exposed: How Israel Captured the Terrorist Holding Oron Shaul's Body
Following a joint ISA, IDF, and Israel Police investigation, a prosecutor's statement was filed against Ibrahim Khilo, whose interrogation led to the secret recovery of the fallen staff sergeant's body in January 2025.
The Israel Undercover Security Agency (ISA/Shin Bet), the Israel Police, and the IDF Spokesperson announced on Tuesday that a prosecutor’s statement has been filed against a Hamas terrorist who held the body of fallen IDF Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul.
The Southern District Attorney's Office (Criminal) is scheduled to file a formal indictment charging the operative with severe security offenses in the Beer Sheva District Court this coming Thursday.
Arrest Led to Secret Recovery Operation
With the filing of the prosecutor's statement, authorities cleared for publication that a clandestine operation was previously launched to arrest Ibrahim Khilo, a Hamas terrorist belonging to the Shati Battalion. During joint ISA and Israel Police interrogations, intelligence was obtained detailing Khilo’s direct involvement in holding the remains of Staff Sergeant Shaul.
The investigation revealed that Khilo had held the fallen soldier's body for nearly ten years. Furthermore, Khilo provided the exact location where the remains were being concealed: a civilian building inside Gaza City.
Acting on this highly precise intelligence, the ISA and the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate (Aman) executed a complex operational mission. Just minutes before a ceasefire went into effect, forces successfully rescued Shaul’s body and returned it to Israel for burial.
Fallen in Operation Protective Edge
Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul fell in battle in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood of Gaza on July 20, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, at which point his body was abducted by the Hamas terrorist organization.
His remains were finally returned to Israel in January 2025 under a joint ISA and IDF operation codenamed "Darom Adom" (Red South), a mission made possible by the collaborative counter-terrorism intelligence gathered by the ISA, Aman, and the Israel Police.