The body of an Israeli soldier has been found more than seven years after he went missing while on a hike.

Majdi Halabi was 19 when he was last seen on May 24 2005, near Mount Carmel.

Remains found in nearby Daliyat al-Karmel three weeks ago were forensically tested, and DNA evidence has now confirmed they are those of Private Halabi.

His parents and other campaigners had long believed the Druze soldier had been kidnapped, and he had appeared on the Israeli Foreign Ministry's official list of soldiers missing in action.

Earlier this year the Israeli government was said to be working on a deal with three prisoners, one of whom was jailed for murder, who had claimed to know what happened to Private Halabi.

The teenager’s father, Nazmi, had said he believed the men were lying and that his son was still alive.