The armed wing of Hamas said it had taken “prisoner” at least one Israeli soldier in an ambush on Saturday in the Gaza Strip, a claim Israel denied.
The Palestinian militant group targeted Israeli forces in a tunnel in the Jabalia camp and “all their members were killed, wounded or taken prisoner,” said Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.
The comments by Abu Obeida came hours after prospects for a resumption of mediated Gaza ceasefire talks grew on Saturday.
Abu Obeida’s claims were followed by celebratory gunshots and cries of joy in Palestinian camps in Lebanon.
Hamas also broadcast images of a soldier being dragged along the ground, presenting the soldier as a captured Israeli. The images could not be immediately authenticated by AFP.
In a statement on Telegram, the Israeli army said it “clarifies that there is no incident in which a soldier was abducted.”
With AFP
