Zehava Shaul, Mother of Fallen Soldier Oron Shaul, Dies After Decade-Long Battle to Repatriate His Body

Zehava Shaul, mother of Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul who was killed during Operation Protective Edge and whose body was held by Hamas for ten years, passed away at age 71. Her death comes about a year and a half after Oron's remains were returned to Israel in a special operation conducted by the IDF and Shin Bet in January 2025.

A resident of Poria Illit in the Jordan Valley, Zehava and her late husband Hertzel Shaul led a persistent public and political campaign for over a decade to bring their son home. Hertzel died in 2016 before Oron's body was recovered. Zehava continued the struggle alone, engaging with international entities including the German government, which agreed to take an active role in negotiations following her 2017 appeal.

During the long fight, the family endured difficult moments, including a 2018 meeting where then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly accused them of lying. Hertzel left Zehava a clear directive to continue the fight without trusting further promises, which she honored until Oron's return.

Oron Shaul, born in December 1993, was a Golani Brigade soldier awarded the President's Citation shortly before his death in July 2014 during the Battle of Shuja'iyya. His body was captured by Hamas, leaving the family in prolonged uncertainty.

The operation that returned Oron's remains, named "Shuvu Beyadenu," took place amid the 2025 Iron Swords conflict. Thousands attended his funeral in Poria Illit, where President Isaac Herzog apologized to the family on behalf of the nation. Netanyahu spoke with Zehava before the funeral, who thanked him for fulfilling his promise to bring Oron home.

The Jordan Valley Regional Council mourned Zehava as a noble woman who fought tirelessly for over ten years. She will be buried in Poria Illit cemetery beside her husband and son, whose first yahrzeit was recently observed. The council extended condolences to her family, especially her sons Ofek and Aviram.