No free info on seized Israeli troopers

Spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing Qassam Brigades Abu Obeida said that information over the Israeli troopers will not be given for free.

Abu Obeida said, in a brief statement on al-Aqsa TV Channel with a poster behind him featuring black-and-white photos of four Israeli troopers, that no contacts were made with Israel about the missing troopers.

“There is no contact with the occupation in relation to the missing troopers in Gaza and we won’t give free information,” said Abu Obeida.

Netanyahu lied to his people when he spoke about his prisoners, he added.

Statements made by the Qassam spokesman retaliated to Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu's statements over the capture of Israeli troopers in Gaza.

Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu claimed that an important development has been reached in the case of missing tropers in Gaza.

He added: "There are countless efforts underway in this regard, for which I hold meetings every few days. I have been briefed two days ago about a significant development, but of course it is impossible to achieve any progress on these issues except away from the limelight. This will not be the only achievement pushed forward in this manner, through secret channels, but it is certainly the first of its kind."

On July 20, 2014 Qassem Brigades declared the capture of an Israeli soldier who was earlier identified as Shaul Aaron during the Israeli summer aggression on Gaza. On August 1, 2014 Israeli authorities declared that they lost contact with the soldier Hadar Golden in Rafah south of Gaza.

Israeli authorities then declared in July 2015 the disappearance of the Israeli-Ethiopian soldier Abraham Mengistu since September 2014 in Gaza Strip after he infiltrated into the besieged enclave.