Zehava Shaul, mother of Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul who was killed and abducted during the 2014 Gaza war, is being buried on Sunday. Her son's remains were returned to Israel in a special operation a year and a half ago.
Zehava Shaul, the mother of fallen Golani soldier Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul, is being laid to rest at this hour at Poria Illit cemetery. The funeral began at 12:00 Jerusalem, following her death on Friday at age 71. Earlier today, The Zioneer reported that senior officials Gadi Eisenkot and Benny Gantz attended the service, underscoring the national significance of the Shaul family's decade-long struggle to bring their son's remains home.
On Friday (Jul 24, 09:02 Jerusalem), The Zioneer first reported Zehava Shaul's passing. Later that day, the desk reported that the funeral would be held on Sunday at 12:00 in Poria Illit, and that President Isaac Herzog had eulogized her, calling her a 'brave mother.' Another report on Friday indicated that Eisenkot and Gantz would attend the funeral, which was confirmed earlier today. The thread shows that the story evolved from an initial announcement to detailed coverage of arrangements and tributes, with multiple sources corroborating the details.
The Shaul family's ordeal is part of the broader issue of fallen soldiers whose remains were held by Hamas after the 2014 Gaza war. As The Zioneer reported in its background coverage, a similar case involved Lt. Hadar Goldin, whose remains were also returned to Israel in 2025 after more than a decade. The return of Oron Shaul's remains in a special military operation a year and a half ago brought closure to the family, though Zehava Shaul continued to advocate for the return of other fallen soldiers.
The funeral is ongoing, with family and dignitaries in attendance. No further details are available at this time.
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