ASHKELON — Two Israelis are being held captive in the Gaza Strip, including one detained by Hamas after crossing into the territory last year, Israeli officials said Thursday, raising fears of another hostage crisis. The Defence Ministry said that “according to credible intelligence” Avraham Mengistu, an Israeli of Ethiopian descent, “is being held against his will by Hamas in Gaza.” It said in a statement that he had “independently crossed the security fence” into Gaza, the Palestinian territory ruled by Islamist movement Hamas, while media reports said the 28-year-old had climbed over the barrier for unclear reasons. “Furthermore, the defense establishment is currently dealing with an additional case of an Israeli Arab also being held in Gaza,” it said, without providing further details on the second person. — AP
