The Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers on Monday said the condition of one of the Israelis it is holding captive has deteriorated.
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The announcement marked a rare piece of information about the Israelis in Hamas captivity. The terrorist group has given no details on the conditions or whereabouts of its prisoners, and it has never allowed the Red Cross to visit them.
There was no immediate comment from Israel.
Hamas is believed to be holding the remains of two soldiers, Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, killed during a 2014 war. Israel has pronounced the soldiers dead, though Hamas has never confirmed this.
In addition, Hamas is believed to be holding two mentally ill Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who wandered across the frontier into Gaza.
It has demanded the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including people convicted in deadly attacks, in exchange for the captive Israelis.
Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, announced "a deterioration in the health of one of the enemy prisoners." He said more details were expected to be released later Monday.
In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said: "Hamas is a cynical and criminal terrorist organization that is holding mentally ill civilians in violation of all conventions and international laws. Hamas is responsible for the condition of the civilian hostages.
"The State of Israel will continue its efforts, with Egyptian mediation, to return the hostages and the missing, with responsibility and determination."
A senior government official said the Hamas statements stemmed from its "frustration with Israeli policy that is making the organization less relevant. Israel sees Hamas as solely responsible for the civilians' condition," according to a Channel 12 News report.
Earlier Monday, an Israeli security official told Channel 12 News that the security system was unaware of any changes to the health of either Mengistu or al-Sayed. According to the official, the statement from Hamas appears to be an attempt to pressure Israel within the framework of talks for their release.
Released right before the evening newscast, the timing of the Hamas statement is no coincidence and is part of Hamas' psychological warfare. Israeli intelligence officials are routinely engaged in efforts to understand the hostages' fate and have seen nothing that indicates a change to their condition.
Government ministers have been ordered not to comment on the Hamas statement until the hostages' condition is verified.
Agarnesh Mengistu, Avera's mother, told Channel 12 News: No one has spoken to me for a long time. I don't know what my son's condition is. I just heard the report for the first time from you. I hope my son is OK and that God is looking over him."
Agarnesh later released a statement critical of the coordinator for coordinator on the issue of IDF captives and MIAs and the Prime Minister's Office.
"This is not the first time that I have been asked to respond to an event related to my son, Avera Mengistu, through the media while having no idea what happened. The office does not update me and releases statements without me, the mother, knowing first. Even official state elements no longer update me on Avera, my son, and suffice with updates to the office. I feel that I have become a burden when they no longer relate to me or update me on my son's welfare. I regret that this is the case. It really hurts me and is already difficult for me to bear. Now, I am waiting for an official to update me on the Hamas statement."
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