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Israel denies Hamas' claim it captured 2 soldiers
Hamas said it captured two Israeli soldiers during fighting in the Gaza Strip on Sunday and was holding them hostage. The armed wing of Hamas, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, also said it has struck two Israeli tanks and a military copter. "Two soldiers were captured," Hamas radio and television said. The capture of Israeli soldiers by Hamas could have a large impact on public support in Israel for the Gaza offensive. Gaza fighters captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid in June 2006. Negotiations brokered by Egypt to secure Shalit's release have foundered. The Israeli army responded by saying that it has no knowledge of any of its soldiers being captured during fighting on Sunday with Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip, a senior army official told reporters. "As far as we know, this is not true," the official said of Hamas's claim to have captured two soldiers. Posted by: Fred 2009-01-05 |
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