Liberman conditions aid for Gaza on Red Cross visits to captive Israelis

Avigdor Lieberman, Israeli Defence Minister

Judah Ari Gross writes in Times of Israel, “Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman on Tuesday conditioned stepped-up humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip on Hamas granting the Red Cross access to the Israelis held captive in the Palestinian enclave. ‘We’re asking for the most obvious, humane humanitarian gesture — at least letting the Red Cross see our captives and fallen soldiers,’ Liberman said. ‘After that it will be much easier, not necessarily to reach a long-term ‘hudna’ (ceasefire) but to give humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza.”

“Two Israeli men — Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed — and the remains of two fallen soldiers — Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin — are believed to be held captive by the terrorist group in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has refused to grant aid groups access to see them, in violation of international law.” (more…)