Two Israeli men with serious mental health conditions who crossed
separately from Israel into the Gaza Strip in 2014 and 2015 have
apparently been held by the Hamas military wing, Human Rights Watch said
today. Avera Mangistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who both have histories of
wandering far on foot, including across borders without authorization,
have not been heard from since they entered Gaza.

Hamas
authorities have indirectly acknowledged in media statements holding the
two men, but say they will divulge nothing about them – not even to
confirm their detention – until Israel frees a group of detained Hamas
members. Hamas authorities refer to the men as soldiers, but a Human
Rights Watch investigation indicates that the Israeli men were not
combatants or affiliated with the Israeli government when they entered
Gaza.