Hamas says it captured several Israeli soldiers in Gaza, Israel denies

A spokesman for the Hamas armed wing did not say how many soldiers had been captured and gave no evidence for the claim.

Israeli soldiers and tanks on the Gaza battlefield. Photo: AP

“Our fighters lured a Zionist force into an ambush inside a tunnel… The fighters retreated after leaving all members of the force dead, wounded and captured,” Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the Al Qassam Brigades, said in a recorded message broadcast by Al Jazeera early on Sunday morning.

The Israeli military on Sunday dismissed the claim by the militant wing of Hamas. “The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) makes it clear that there were no arrests of soldiers,” the statement said.

Hamas released a video showing a bloodied man being dragged across the ground in a tunnel and several other photos showing Israeli military casualties.

Abu Ubaida's announcement came hours after the prospect of a resumption of ceasefire talks in Gaza emerged. An official familiar with the matter said the decision to resume talks next week was made after the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency met with the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar.

The source said it was decided that "next week, negotiations will begin based on new proposals made by mediators, led by Egypt and Qatar, with the active participation of the United States".

A Hamas commander later denied Israeli media reports that talks would resume in Cairo on Tuesday, saying: "There is no specific date." Meanwhile, according to health authorities in Gaza, the death toll in Gaza is approaching 36,000 Palestinians killed in the Israeli offensive.

Huy Hoang (according to AJ, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hamas-noi-bat-duoc-binh-linh-israel-o-gaza-nhung-israel-phu-nhan-post296903.html