Israeli Source to TML: Hamas Video of Captive Is Proof of Life Amid Swap Talks
Clip of Avera Mengistu, held in Gaza since 2014, comes amid prisoner swap talks exclusively revealed by TML in December; deal being mediated by Egypt and Qatar will also include Hisham al-Sayed, bodies of 2 fallen IDF soldiers
An undated video clip released Monday by Hamas showing an Israeli citizen believed to be held captive by the Islamist group in Gaza serves as confirmation of his well being, an Israeli source told The Media Line.
Israel believes Avera (Avraham) Mengistu crossed into the Strip of his own accord in 2014 and is being held in the coastal enclave along with another Israeli national Hisham al-Sayed and the two bodies of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, two IDF soldiers the country declared fallen in its 2014 conflict with Hamas. Al-Sayed is also believed to have entered the Strip under his own volition in 2015.