The family of Avera Mengistu, one of two Israeli citizens being held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, responded with outrage Sunday morning to statements by special negotiator for hostages and prisoners of war Yaron Blum, who said that Mengistu had crossed the border into twice and been returned by Hamas prior to being taken prisoner.
In an interview to Israel Radio on Sunday morning, Blum said, "They have both been returned [after crossing the Gaza border] several times. Mengistu was returned once and [Hisham] al-Sayed was returned twice. Now they [Hamas] have decided to hold them, in violation of all international laws."
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"The statements are incorrect, and it's especially bad when the Israeli negotiators spreads things that are untrue about Avera Mengistu. We might expect a person whose job it is to show sensitivity to get things right, and not add to the family's pain by making offensive remarks that are factually incorrect. We expect Mr. Blum to issue an immediate correction and apology," the family said.
Blum said he "apologized deeply" for his erroneous remarks about Mengistu having tried to cross the Gaza border before being taken captive, and said that he had actually been referring to the second Israeli being held by Hamas, Hisham al-Sayed.
Blum also addressed accusations made by Leah Goldin, the mother of Lt. Hadar Goldin, whose remains have been held hostage by Hamas since Operation Protective Edge in 2014, that Blum was "deceiving" Goldin's family and the family of Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul, who was also killed in Operation Protective Edge and whose body Hamas is also holding captive.
Blum said that there was "progress" in the negotiations for the release of the soldiers' bodies.
Leah Goldin appeared on "Meet the Press" on Saturday evening and claimed that the Israeli government was abandoning its captive soldiers.
"For five years and three months, Hadar has been in the hands of Hamas, Oron too, and there has been a consistent policy of abandoning soldiers – simply not bringing them home. A week ago, [Israel] returned the body of a terrorist. 'Hamasnikim' wrapped him up in a flag and that was the worst of all, because in January 2017 the cabinet decided they would not return any bodies of Hamas terrorists."
"The families are being terribly deceived … [Israel] isn't asking for them back at all," Goldin alleged.
In response to Goldin's allegations, Blum told Israel Radio, "We are working with Hamas through a number of intermediaries. There is progress. More than one channel is active in arranging a deal."
According to Blum, "Hamas still isn't ready. There are big gaps between their insane demands and what Israel is willing to give. But we can definitely say that we're making progress … Unfortunately, Hamas still doesn't understand that something has changed and the Israeli public is not willing to repeat the deal for the release of [Gilad] Schalit."
Discussing the situation of captives Mengistu and al-Sayed, Blum said, "We believe that Mengistu is alive. We know that Hamas is holding him captive. Hamas is responsible for him, like it's responsible for Hisham al-Sayed. We believe that al-Sayed is also alive. … We are doing everything we can. They are both mentally ill."
