‘2 Israelis being held by Hamas’

The man was never drafted into the IDF due to medical reasons. Israeli analysts said one apparently referred to Hadar Goldin, another soldier who is held by Hamas, and the third apparently referred to Mengistu.

It said he crossed the border on foot on September 7, 2014.

The Defence Ministry said Israel had “appealed to worldwide and regional interlocutors to demand (Mangisto’s) immediate release and verify his well-being” and would “continue to pursue the release and return of the citizen to Israel”. Coincidentally, prior year, an African-born Israeli referred to as Avraham Mengistu made a decision to fall across the environs hurdle, bristling by having technical detectors and guarded by remote-controlled machinery pistolsrifles, and type the Gaza Strip. They also would not say which group had him in custody.

An Israeli man has been missing in Gaza for nearly 10 months – presumed held captive by Hamas – after climbing over a border fence from a public beach adjoining the coastal strip.

Netanyahu said he appointed a representative to deal with the matter and liaise with the missing men’s families.

At a rally in Gaza on Wednesday, Hamas displayed a huge model fist holding a mock up of Shaul’s ID card and two other IDF IDs with question marks on them, implying that it holds two Israeli soldiers captive.

The 50-day conflict, in which more than 2,200 Palestinians and 72 Israelis died, was provoked by a similar kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers by the Islamist group. It was their third war since the Hamas takeover.

Though bitter enemies, both sides have largely honored a cease-fire that ended last year’s war – their third since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007.

Notably absent on Thursday were also the type of celebrations in Gaza that had accompanied previous kidnappings of Israelis. Where Schalit and the teens were captured in military-style operations, the latest disappearances appeared accidental. He was exchanged for more than 1,000 Palestinians who were detained in Israeli jails.

Palestinian sources said he was originally held by Hamas, which released him after they realized he was not a soldier.

Two Israelis are being held captive in the Gaza Strip, according to officials.

One of the first issues could be determining the fate of Mengistu. In some places the fence between Israel and Gaza is only a few metres high, while it is also possible to swim around into Gaza, although the Israeli military closely monitors such activity.

In a statement to the press outside the family’s home, Mengisto’s brother Ilan said Avra was “unwell” and asked Hamas to “release him immediately”.

“According to Hamas, they’re not holding him and this has been checked by the government, the Hamas police and the al-Qassam Brigade”, said Baskin, who said he had been involved in talks with Mashaal for months to secure Mengistu’s release.

His reference to the potential “politicizing” of Mengistu’s plight by linking it to recent allegations of institutionalized racism by the Ethiopian community has evidently touched a raw nerve with the already aggrieved family and sparked outrage across Israeli social media, where it has been widely described as an extraordinary indictment of government officials.