Hamas said Sunday it would hand over the body of Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin, killed during the 2014 Gaza war and held in the enclave for 11 years — the only remains kept in Gaza before the current conflict.

The move marks a major development in the U.S.-brokered truce and could bring closure to Goldin’s family, who have long campaigned for his return. Hamas claimed it discovered the body in a tunnel in Rafah on Saturday. Goldin was killed on Aug. 1, 2014, just two hours after a ceasefire began.

Israeli media reported that Hamas had delayed the release in hopes of negotiating safe passage for over 100 militants trapped in Rafah, though Israeli officials dismissed any “deal within a deal.”

Goldin is one of five Israeli hostages’ bodies still held in Gaza. Under the truce, Hamas is expected to return all remains of hostages, while Israel has released the bodies of Palestinians in exchange — 15 for each Israeli hostage.

President Isaac Herzog confirmed Israel expected Goldin’s body to be returned later Sunday. The announcement came as he attended the funeral of another soldier, Staff Sgt. Itay Chen, whose remains were released last week.

Since the ceasefire began last month, militants have returned 23 Israeli bodies, while Gaza’s Nasser Hospital says it has received the remains of 300 Palestinians, with 89 identified.

The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping 251. Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 69,000 Palestinians have since been killed.

Goldin’s death was confirmed by the Israeli military in 2014 based on evidence from the tunnel where his body was taken.