A spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing claimed on Sunday that its fighters had captured Israeli soldiers during fighting in Jabalia in northern Gaza on Saturday. However, the Israeli military denied this claim.
The spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing did not specify the number of soldiers allegedly abducted and provided no evidence to support the claim. “Our fighters lured a Zionist force into an ambush inside a tunnel… The fighters withdrew after they left all members of the force dead, wounded, and captured,” Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a recorded message broadcast by Al-Jazeera early on Sunday.
The Israeli military refuted the claim. “The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) clarifies that there is no incident in which a soldier was abducted,” it said in a statement.
Hamas released a video showing a bloodied person being dragged in a tunnel and photos of military fatigues and a rifle. Reuters could not independently verify the identity or condition of the person in the video.
Abu Ubaida’s comments came just hours after indications that mediated Gaza ceasefire talks might resume. An official with knowledge of the situation said a decision was made to restart talks next week after the chief of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency met with the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar. The source, who requested anonymity, said, “in the coming week negotiations will open based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar, and with active U.S. involvement.”
A Hamas official later denied Israeli media reports that the talks would resume in Cairo on Tuesday, telling Reuters, “There is no date.”
After over seven months of conflict in Gaza, mediators have struggled to achieve a breakthrough. Israel seeks the release of hostages held by Hamas, while Hamas demands an end to the conflict and the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Nearly 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel launched the operation in response to Hamas-led militants attacking southern Israeli communities on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
