Hamas Issues ‘Important’ Statement on Captives

Hamas said it was going to issue an “important” statement Tuesday evening on the Israeli captives—two living civilians and the bodies of two IDF soldiers Hy”d— held by the terror group in Gaza, according to Palestinian media reports.

A spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, Abu Obeida of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades,said it was set for 9:45 p.m., Israel time.

What was billed by Hamas as an “important” statement about Israeli captives in its hands on Tuesday evening turned out to offer no new information, containing only new threats.

A spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, Abu Obeida of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said “there is a real chance to resolve the issue of prisoners and missing persons if the Israeli leadership is serious about opening this case.”

“We warn that the case is likely to be closed – see the case of Ron Arad,” the Hamas spokesman said, without disclosing any information about the condition of the captives.

The expected statement comes on the fifth anniversary of the 2014 war in Gaza, known in Israel as Operation Protective Edge, in which two soldiers were killed.

The soldiers are Hadar Goldin Hy”d and Oron Shaul Hy”d. The civilians are Avera Mengistu and Hisham Shaaban A-Sayed.