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Netanyahu stresses Hamas’ ‘unbelievable cruelty’ in meeting with Int’l Red Cross chief

Meeting with the head of the International Red Cross, Netanyahu slammed the ‘”unbelievable cruelty” with which Hamas is treating captive Israelis.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Wednesday with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Peter Maurer in Jerusalem, where they discussed the fate of three Israeli civilians believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza along with the remains of two IDF soldiers.

Netanyahu expressed appreciation to Maurer for “a very decent and very open relationship between the Red Cross and Israel that is very valuable for the Red Cross, for Israel and for peace.”

Netanyahu pointed out that Maurer’s visit comes at a time when Israel is concerned about Hamas’ “unbelievable cruelty as the bodies of its slain soldiers are kept, and even information about them is kept, and, no less important, innocent, defenseless civilians are being held in Gaza.”

Hamas is believed to be holding the remains of two soldiers, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, killed during the 2014 war.

Shaul was killed in battle together with another six Golani soldiers in Shajaiya in 2014 when their armored personnel carrier was hit by an anti-tank rocket. His body was never recovered and is assumed to be held by Hamas.

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Goldin was abducted by Hamas and killed during a battle with Hamas terrorists in Shajaiya. Two other IDF soldiers also died in the incident.

In addition, Hamas is believed to be holding three Israeli civilians who scaled a border fence and entered Gaza. Ethiopian-Israeli Avera Mengistu and Bedouin Hisham al-Sayed, both said to be suffering from mental health issues, crossed into Gaza willingly in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and were captured by Hamas. A third Israeli citizen, Bedouin Jumaa Abu Ghanima, entered Gaza in July 2016.

Hamas Gives No Information on Captives

While visiting Gaza and meeting with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar earlier this week, Maurer was denied his request to meet with the Israeli captives.

Netanyahu said that Israel has sought information about its missing citizens, only to be rebuffed by Hamas. He further expressed appreciation for the ICRC president’s assistance in this humanitarian effort “in the face of Hamas’ cruelty.”

Maurer noted that the Red Cross has been in the region for a long time and that this was one of its longest-running operations, adding that he was “looking forward once again toward having the opportunity to look into some of the challenges that everyone is currently confronted with and to see how the ICRC can eventually help with them.”

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Netanyahu said he was sure that the ICRC could help, both in retrieving the bodies of Israel’s fallen soldiers and in bringing back to Israel the “defenseless, helpless civilians who are being held by Hamas in contravention of all international norms and the ideals that the Red Cross was established for.”

Hamas has not publicly released any evidence confirming the terror group is holding the Israelis, and their families have not heard from them.

There have reportedly been secret negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach a deal on the issue.

Sinwar said Hamas will not release any information about the missing Israelis until Israel frees 58 Palestinian terrorists originally released in the 2011 prisoner swap, when 1,027 Palestinian prisoners were freed in exchange for Gilad Shalit. The 58 Palestinian criminals whose release Hamas is demanding were later rearrested for continuing their terror activities.

By: World Israel News Staff