Four reasons why the capture of an Israeli soldier is significant

More than 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since the Israeli military began Operation Protective Edge on 8 July. Israeli human rights group B'Tselem estimates that more than a quarter of those are under 18.

Sixty-three Israeli soldiers have also been killed, and on Friday it was announced that 23-year-old IDF soldier Lieutenant Hadar Goldin was missing feared captured. Here's why, in the face of all the other deaths, the potential capture of one soldier is still significant.

1. Israel has conscription, which means nearly everyone knows someone in the army or has been in the army.

That also means that when a solider is captured or dies, Jewish Israelis mourn for them in a way that is rarely seen in British society. As the BBC reported in 2011:

For the Jewish community - about three-quarters of Israel's population - the army is seen simply as the nation in uniform. As a result, it still produces a kind of emotional reaction which has been largely forgotten in countries like the UK or the US, which have salaried professional armies.

It also creates a "political pressure when a soldier is captured" that rarely exists elsewhere. It is worth noting that American drama Homeland is based on an Israeli drama, Hatufim, about three prisoners of war.

2. The last high profile soldier captured in Israel was Gilad Shalit.

Shalit was captured in June 2006 by Hamas militants. In October 2011, Israel freed 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in return for his release.

3. Preliminary reports suggest this soldier is related to Israel's defence minister, Moshe Ya'alon.

If this is accurate then it will further increase political pressure on the Israeli government to act. According to polls, just 3.5 per cent think the Israel Defence Forces has used excessive force in Gaza. Overall 95 per cent of people say it is justified.

4. It is also suggested he could be British.

If Lt Goldin is really British-Israeli, the Foreign Office will have to respond and dramatically increases British media interest in his apparent capture. According to Cambridge Rabbi Reuven Leigh he "spent a few years living in Cambridge with his family".