Missing Israeli soldier Oron Shaul.

JNS.org – Israeli soldier St.-Sgt. Oron Shaul, 20, who was declared missing after a July 20 attack on his armored personnel carrier (APC) that left six other Israeli soldiers dead, was declared dead by the head Israel Defense Forces (IDF) rabbi on Friday.

After he was initially declared missing, Hamas claimed that it kidnapped Shaul. But the IDF had rejected that claim.

The APC carrying Shaul and other soldiers from the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion was destroyed when it drove over an explosive device that detonated, the Jerusalem Post reported.

According to the IDF, Shaul’s body has yet to be recovered.

With Shaul’s death, 34 Israeli soldiers have died in combat since the IDF ground operation in Gaza began on July 17.