Israeli envoy dismisses Hamas’ kidnapping claim

An Israeli envoy on Sunday dismissed the Hamas armed wing’s claim that they had kidnapped an Israeli soldier.

Ron Prosor, Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, made the clarification at the UN headquarters as the Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine.

“There’s no kidnapped Israeli soldier and those rumors are untrue,” he told reporters here.

Earlier on Sunday Hamas’ armed wing Qassam Brigades announced that they had kidnapped an Israeli soldier and hold him captive in Gaza. They identified the soldier as Shaul Aron and his military number as 6092065, saying that they succeeded in kidnapping him during an ambush in Attufah neighborhood in Gaza city.

Hamas made the claim four days after Israel launched a ground operation into Gaza to end rocket fire. Israel’s military operation has resulted in the deaths of more than 450 Palestinians and the injury of some 3040 others in Gaza. One Israeli citizen and 13 soldiers have also been killed, while 65 others injured.

The Security Council is holding an emergency meeting Sunday night on the worsening situation in Gaza. Diplomats said the meeting was requested by council member Jordan, as regional leaders met in Doha for urgent talks on a ceasefire.

Source: Xinhua