Hamas catches Israel by throat, again

ASHKELON: Two Israelis are being held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip after having crossed into the Palestinian territory, Israeli officials said Thursday, raising fears of another hostage crisis.

In 2011, Israel released more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held by Hamas for five years.
And the Shalit case already appears to be having a bearing on this one, with a Hamas official saying former prisoners re-arrested by Israel last year must be freed before there is any talk about releasing the Israelis.
A member of the Hamas political bureau in Gaza said the matter was in the hands of the group’s armed wing.
However, he said “nothing is for free,” adding that: “In advance of any discussion Hamas demands the release of all the prisoners freed in the swap for Gilad Shalit and subsequently re-arrested.”
Israel said “according to credible intelligence” Avraham Mengistu, an Israeli of Ethiopian descent, “is being held against his will by Hamas.”
Mengistu had “independently crossed the security fence” into Gaza, the Palestinian territory ruled by Hamas, a statement said.
“The defense establishment is currently dealing with an additional case of an Israeli Arab also being held in Gaza,” it said, without elaborating.
Meanwhile, Israel and Palestinians marked one year since last summer’s war in Gaza, with Hamas armed wing boasting of new missiles at a late-night rally and tens of thousands of residents still homeless.
Several hundred people crowded into a City square late Wednesday after iftar for a rally by Hamas armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades.
Brigades members with their faces covered with black keffiyeh scarves stood in front of models of two missiles about three to four meters in length aboard the bed of a truck.
Fathers held their children on their shoulders and brigades members lifted their weapons in the air as spokesman Abu Obeida gave a speech, his face covered in a keffiyeh.
Abu Obeida said two new locally made missiles represented a “qualitative leap” forward.
A UN official called for an end to the “inexcusable” Israeli blockade of the territory that has helped prevent rebuilding.
“The blockade remains in place and its crippling effect on Gaza is undeniable, inexcusable,” Robert Turner, operations director in Gaza for UN relief agency UNRWA, said.