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Israeli PM warns Hamas over two Israelis 'held in Gaza' | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Israel's prime minister says he holds Hamas responsible for the fate of two Israeli citizens believed held in Gaza. | |
Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was working to secure their safe return. | |
Israel said it believes one, an Ethiopian Israeli, was being held by Hamas. An Israeli Arab is also being held in Gaza, defence officials say. | |
Hamas has not commented on either case. The group held an Israeli soldier for five years before being exchanging him for hundreds of prisoners in 2011. | |
The Islamist militant group has controlled Gaza since winning elections in 2006. It reinforced its power there in 2007 after ousting its political rivals, Fatah. | |
Israeli defence officials say Avraham Mangisto, of Ethiopian origin, went into the Palestinian territory of his own accord last September and has been missing since then. | |
Israel says it has appealed to international and regional bodies to help clarify Mr Mangisto's situation and are demanding his immediate release. | |
"According to credible intelligence, Mangisto is being held against his will by Hamas," a defence ministry statement said. | "According to credible intelligence, Mangisto is being held against his will by Hamas," a defence ministry statement said. |
"Israel will continue to pursue the release and return of the citizen to Israel," it added. | "Israel will continue to pursue the release and return of the citizen to Israel," it added. |
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said it was a "painful situation" and that he was in contact with Mr Mangisto's family. | Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said it was a "painful situation" and that he was in contact with Mr Mangisto's family. |
"This is a humanitarian issue, and we expect those holding him to behave accordingly and return him in good health," he said. | "This is a humanitarian issue, and we expect those holding him to behave accordingly and return him in good health," he said. |
Netanyahu appeal | |
Mr Netanyahu called on the international community to help secure the men's release. | |
"I expect the international community, which expresses its concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, to issue a clear call for these citizens to be released and to see to their return," he said. | |
The Associated Press quoted an unnamed official as saying it was unclear why Mr Mangisto went into Gaza but that he was believed to be mentally unstable. | |
Israeli media said the 28-year-old, from Ashkelon, had breached the heavily-guarded security fence between Israel and Gaza. | |
Local media said the Israeli Arab being held in Gaza was a Bedouin from Israel's southern Negev desert. His name has not been released. | Local media said the Israeli Arab being held in Gaza was a Bedouin from Israel's southern Negev desert. His name has not been released. |
The defence ministry said he had crossed into Gaza several times before. | The defence ministry said he had crossed into Gaza several times before. |
The two cases were cleared for publication on Thursday after a court lifted a gagging order. | The two cases were cleared for publication on Thursday after a court lifted a gagging order. |
In 2006, Sgt Shalit was captured in a cross-border raid by Hamas, triggering a crisis which was only resolved years later in a controversial exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. | In 2006, Sgt Shalit was captured in a cross-border raid by Hamas, triggering a crisis which was only resolved years later in a controversial exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. |