Israeli soldier's remains repatriated from Gaza

The remains of an Israeli soldier killed in Hamas's October 7 attack that triggered the Gaza war have been recovered and returned to his family, the Israeli army said.

In an overnight operation "a fallen (Israel Defense Forces) soldier who was abducted on October 7th and held hostage in the Gaza Strip was rescued and returned to the State of Israel", an army statement said.

"At the request of his family, his name will not be published. We send our deepest condolences to the family and will continue to accompany them."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the soldier "fell in a heroic battle" and that "the heart of the entire nation grieves over the terrible loss".

The campaign group Hostage and Missing Families Forum said the return of the soldier's remains offered "important closure" for the family, but demanded a negotiated deal to release those still held captive in Gaza since October 7.

"We must not be misled -- the remaining hostages don't have the luxury of waiting for rescue operations," the group said in a statement.

Hamas's October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,199 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli official figures.