Hamas on Sunday handed over the remains of an Israeli soldier held by the Palestinian militant group for more than a decade, bringing bitter closure to a family that waited 11 years to bury him. Hamas identified the deceased soldier as Lt.

Hamas said that it found the body of the soldier, Hadar Goldin, in a tunnel in the enclave's southernmost city of Rafah on Saturday. Goldin was killed on Aug. 1, 2014.

Hadar Goldin was killed on Aug. 1, 2014, two hours after a ceasefire took effect ending that year's war between Israel and Hamas.

Israel on Sunday received the remains of a hostage in Gaza that Hamas says is the body of an Israeli soldier who was killed in 2014 and has been held in Gaza for the past 11 years. His remains were the only ones held in Gaza since before the latest war between Israel and Hamas.

The return of the remains of Hadar Goldin would be a significant development in the current truce and close a painful, 11-year saga for his family.

The prime minster's office said Goldin's family was notified "that their loved one had been returned to Israel and his identification had been completed." "The Government of Israe

Gaza health officials report that more than 69,000 Palestinians have died in the Israel-Hamas war as more bodies are exchanged between Israel and Hamas.