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Israeli Held in Gaza

July 9, 2015

The 28-year-old was reported missing ten months ago, just after the end of 2014's war between Israel and Hamas. A second Israeli Arab has also been reported missing, but a name has not been released.

https://p.dw.com/p/1FvPu
Three Israeli Army soldiers (HAZEM BADER/AFP/Getty Images)
Image: H. Bader/AFP/Getty Images

An Israeli civilian who disappeared last year is being held by Hamas in Gaza, an official statement from the Israeli Defense Ministry revealed on Thursday.

Avraham "Avra" Mengisto, a 28-year-old Ethiopian Israeli, crossed the border with Gaza from Ashkelon on September 7, 2014, of his volition, the Ministry said. He has been missing since then.

Mangisto's motivation for crossing into Gaza is unknown. The Defense Ministry added they had no current information about his fate.

Hamas had previously denied they were holding Mangisto and has not yet commented since the news broke.

The statement added that the ministry was “dealing with an additional case of an Israeli Arab, who is being held in Gaza,” but did not elaborate.

In 2011, the Israeli government brokered a deal with Hamas for the release of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier who was abducted by militants in 2006 and held in captivity in Gaza for more than five years. He was exchanged for more than 1,000 Palestinians who were detained in Israeli jails.

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon previously told reporters that Israel is also seeking the return of the remains of two soldiers killed during the 2014 Gaza war.

mes/jil (AFP/Reuters)