JERUSALEM, Israel -- Kidnapping Israeli soldiers is a "top priority," Gaza-based Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, was quoted as saying.
"Abducting Israeli soldiers is a top priority on the agenda of Hamas and the Palestinian resistance," Haniyeh told participants at a conference in Gaza City that focused on Palestinian Arab prisoners, the Ma'an news agency reported.
Haniyeh said the best way to free prisoners is using captured soldiers as bargaining chips, saying it's an "unquestionable fact" that "negotiations with the occupation have failed."
Hamas kidnapped former IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in June 2006 and held him captive for five years before exchanging him for more than 1,000 terror prisoners.
Did you know?
God is everywhere—even in the news. That’s why we view every news story through the lens of faith. We are committed to delivering quality independent Christian journalism you can trust. But it takes a lot of hard work, time, and money to do what we do. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1.
Support CBN News
