DUBAI/JERUSALEM (Reuters): The armed wing of Palestinian militant group Hamas said an Israeli soldier who had been held hostage was killed early on Friday in a clash between the militants and an Israeli special forces unit that was conducting a rescue operation.
Al-Qassam Brigades said its fighters had discovered the rescue operation and confronted the unit which led to the death and injury of a number of the Israeli forces involved in the operation, without specifying a number.
They identified the captive soldier who was killed as 25-year-old Sa’ar Baruch and gave an identification number for him.
The Israeli Defense Forces did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Israel rescued a captive soldier from Gaza captivity in late October and has said it could mount similar operations to retrieve remaining hostages if possible.
