Israelis claims hostages held by Hamas in Gaza

Two Israeli citizens are being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, a situation that could lead to demands for a prisoner exchange between Israel and the Islamist militant group.

Hamas, which took control of the Palestinian coastal enclave in 2007 and fought three wars with Israel since then, declined to confirm or deny it had the captives.

“We are working for the return of the two Israelis who crossed the border into Gaza,” Netanyahu said in a statement