A year and a half has passed since IDF soldier Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul was killed in action during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, in the summer of 2014. After he was classified as a fallen soldier whose burial place is unknown, it has been a year and a half of anguish and uncertainty for his parents, Zahava and Herzl. On Sunday the family held a press conference at their home in Poria Illit, near Tiberias in northern Israel, and called for answers. "Despite the efforts that have been made or not made, we have not seen a change in the situation and Oron has not been returned home," Zahava said. "To this day, the family has no concrete and verifiable evidence that Oron is alive or not, wounded or dead, and we are in a situation of complete uncertainty." She addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the government and said, "A year and a half and the situation remains the same. This situation cannot continue." She also turned directly to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. "Hamas, like Hezbollah and ISIS, manipulates and conducts psychological warfare, releasing wild information without [providing] an identity. Without an identity, it is not serious in my eyes. I do not believe it," she said. "Ismail Haniyeh, I am turning to you again, for a second time. I want to believe you. Give me concrete evidence on the true condition of Oron. I know this comes with a price, but the moment you provide proof like you presented to the family of Gilad Schalit, I assure you we will turn over the country, and the world, to ensure that the deal [for his return] will be happen. Think about what I said." In the wake of the press conference, the family of Lt. Hadar Goldin, who also fell in Gaza during the operation, echoed the Shaul family's call. "No humanitarian or other gestures must be made toward the people of Gaza until Hadar and Oron are returned," the family said.
