Hamas releases video it says is of Israeli man captured in Gaza in 2014

GAZA -Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas launched a video on Monday exhibiting what they stated was an Israeli citizen being held captive within the Gaza Strip. The unverified pictures of the person are the primary since his seize in 2014.

The undated video exhibits a person recognized by Hamas as Israeli civilian, Avera Mengistu, sitting in entrance of a clean wall and talking for about 10 seconds, asking Israel for assist. Its launch gave the impression to be an effort to strain Israel into making a prisoner swap.

Mengistu, who based on his household suffers from psychological well being points, crossed into Gaza in 2014 and has been held in captivity since.

Mengistu’s id was not confirmed by Israel. However his brother Ilan stated the household, after eight and a half years of getting no concept about his emotional or bodily wellbeing, imagine it's him.

“My mom is on the verge of tears. She hasn’t stopped watching the video,” he advised Reuters. “Her hope, her nice happiness will likely be seeing him dwelling secure and sound.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace stated in response to the video’s launch: “Israel is investing all its assets and efforts to deliver its captured and lacking boys dwelling.”

It didn't touch upon the video’s authenticity.

Hamas in its video mentions Israel’s new prime normal, who was formally appointed on Monday, however gave no additional particulars on Mengistu’s situation.

Final June, Hamas distributed a separate video purporting to point out a second Israeli civilian being held captive.

Israel says Hamas is holding two Israeli civilians and the stays of two of its troopers who have been killed in a 2014 Israel-Gaza battle. The civilians are believed to have crossed over into Gaza willingly for unknown causes.

Up to now, Israel has engaged in prisoner swaps with Hamas, most notably in 2011, when Gilad Shalit, a soldier kidnapped by militants in a cross-border raid in 2006, was launched in change for greater than 1,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.