Hamas claims abduction of Israeli soldiers in Gaza
A spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing announced on sunday that its militants had detained Israeli troops during combat in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on Saturday, but the Israeli military refuted the report. The spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing refused to disclose how many troops had been taken and provided no evidence to back up the assertion.
"Our troops enticed a Zionist force into an ambush under a tunnel... The militants departed after killing, injuring, and capturing all members of the force," Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the Al Qassam Brigades, said in a recorded message broadcast by Al Jazeera early Sunday.
On sunday, the Israeli military dismissed Hamas' armed wing's claims.
"The IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) clarifies that there was no incident in which a soldier was abducted," the military stated.
On sunday, the Israeli military dismissed Hamas' armed wing's claims.
"The IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) clarifies that there was no incident in which a soldier was abducted," the military stated.
Hamas posted a video depicting a bleeding victim being taken down a tunnel, as well as photographs showing military gear and a gun. Reuters was unable to independently verify the individual featured in the video's identity or condition.
Abu Ubaida's comments come hours after hopes for a restart of mediated Gaza ceasefire negotiations improved on Saturday.
According to an official familiar with the case, the chairman of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency met with the head of the CIA and Qatar's prime minister and decided to restart negotiations next week.
The source, who did not want to be named by name or country, stated that "in the coming week negotiations will open based on new proposals led by the mediators, egypt and Qatar, with active U.S. involvement."
A Hamas spokesperson later refuted Israeli media claims that discussions will restart in Cairo on Tuesday, telling Reuters that "there is no date."
After more than seven months of conflict in Gaza, the mediators have struggled to make a breakthrough, with israel wanting the release of hostages held by Hamas and Hamas seeking an end to the war and the release of Palestinian detainees in Israel.