Hamas 'captures 2 Israeli soldiers'

[Americanhero1]

Hamas says its fighters have captured two Israeli soldiers during clashes with invading Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip.

"Two soldiers were captured" by Hamas military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas radio and television said.

The Israeli army, however, has denied the report.

"As far as we know, this is not true", an Israeli army official said.

The reported arrests come one day after Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal threatened to detain the Israeli troops if Tel Aviv launched a ground offensive into the coastal strip.

Meshaal had said that sending Israeli troops into the Gaza Strip would prompt Hamas operations for more Shalit-like captures.

"If you commit the stupidity of launching a ground offensive, a black destiny will await you," Mashaal said on Friday.

"If you commit a foolish act by raiding Gaza, who knows, we may have a second or a third or a fourth Shalit," he added.

Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured two years ago in a cross-border operation by Palestinian fighters.
http://www.presstv.ir/gaza/detail.aspx?id=80535

[Abben]

I hope its not true.

[muman613]

I hope its not true.

I just saw this on Israel National News:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129224

Golani Soldiers Foiled Kidnapping Attempt
Tevet 9, 5769, 05 January 09 07:39
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

(IsraelNN.com) Golani troops and IAF helicopters foiled an attempt by Hamas to kidnap a solder in a tunnel near Gaza City Sunday morning. The IDF refused to comment on the report.

The incident was said to have occurred after Golani troops entered a Hamas command center in a house on the eastern outskirts of Gaza City and discovered smuggling tunnels underneath. A clash broke out between the troops and Hamas terrorists, who began to drag away one soldier, according to Israeli and foreign media.

Helicopter cover and efforts by his comrades forced the terrorists to release the solider. The IDF refused to discuss the incident, saying it would not comment on "rumors," but its spokesmen on Sunday denied a Hamas claim to the media that it had kidnapped two soldiers. The denial was issued after Reuters published the report, and the source of the claim may have been the clash that was not reported until Monday morning.

Ground troops advanced deeper and slowly and carefully into Gaza. One soldier suffered moderate wounds and four others were lightly injured in heavy fighting with Hamas guerrilla fighters.

Five soldiers remained in serious condition in Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva on Monday morning. One of the wounded is Dvir Bar Chai, son of Southern Hevron Hills Regional Council leader Tzviki Bar Chai. Twenty-three soldiers suffered light to moderate wounds.

Twelve other soldiers are recovering from light injuries in Bellinson, Barzilai and Sheba hospitals, and one other soldier is recovering moderate wounds.

The Air Force struck 30 terrorist targets in Gaza overnight while southern Israel residents spent a quiet night. Gaza terrorists launched their first rocket of the day at 7:00 a.m. on Sderot. The missile exploded at a kibbutz outside of the town and caused no injuries or damage.

[muman613]

This article answers this question:


http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129206

Hamas Lies About Kidnapped Soldiers in New Terror Tactic
Tevet 8, 5769, 04 January 09 11:46
by Hana Levi Julian

(IsraelNN.com) The Hamas terrorist organization announced Sunday that it had kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in the first stage of the ground invasion of IDF troops into Gaza.

The statement, made to foreign television stations, is totally untrue, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, as was the statement Saturday night that 10 IDF soldiers had been killed in the first assault.

Propanganda and disinformation is an inherent part of the psychological warfare used by Hamas to weaken the Israeli resolve, said Israeli officials. It is gamble used in the hope that news services will pick up the report and disseminate it before the truth becomes known. The goal is to confuse and frighten the Israeli readers and break their determination to continue the operation.

The Reuters news agency apparently did not bother to check the facts before its initial publication of the Hamas statement, nor did it include a counter-statement from the IDF confirming or denying the veracity of the claim.

During the 2006 Second Lebanon War, a Reuters staffer was caught faking a photograph of damage from IDF bombing in a Beirut suburb to make it appear as though Israel has massacred the neighborhood instead of using pinpoint surgical strikes as it had. The staff member was reportedly dismissed.

Kidnapping Threats from Hamas
Damascus-based Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal said a statement broadcast Friday on the Arabic-language Al Jazeera satellite TV network that Israel would face a "black fate" if it proceeded to enter Gaza with ground forces.

Mashaal threatened to turn Gaza into "an IDF cemetery" if IDF forces entered the region, and said terrorists would kidnap "a second, third, and fourth Gilad Shalit."

Operatives from three related Gaza terror groups kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid near the Kerem Shalom Crossing on June 25, 2006. Two other soldiers were killed and a fourth was severely wounded in the attack. Shalit has remained in Gaza in enemy hands.