NEW YORK -- World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder today condemned in the strongest possible terms the apparent kidnapping of an Israeli soldier in the Gaza Strip and urged Jews worldwide to pray for his safe return. The IDF suspects Second Lt. Hadar Goldin of Kfar Saba was seized this morning after the start of a humanitarian cease-fire. Two other soldiers were killed in the attack as Hamas terrorist emerged from a tunnel.
“This apparent kidnapping, and the killing of two other soldiers, all of which occurred after the declaration of a humanitarian cease-fire, are outrageous and deserve the strongest condemnation, which they are receiving worldwide,” Lauder said. “As the Obama Administration has said, these acts are barbaric, and the international community must exert its influence on Hamas to return the soldier immediately.”
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US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement: “The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s attack, which led to the killing of two Israeli soldiers and the apparent abduction of another. It was an outrageous violation of the cease-fire negotiated over the past several days, and of the assurances given to the United States and the United Nations.Hamas, which has security control over the Gaza Strip, must immediately and unconditionally release the missing Israeli soldier, and I call on those with influence over Hamas to reinforce this message.”
US Deputy National Security adviser Tony Blinken called the kidnapping “a barbaric violation of the cease-fire agreement,” and urged the international community to use their influence “to get Hamas to return the soldier that has been taken hostage and to live up to the agreements that were made just yesterday."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in a statement that “Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in Gaza would bear the consequences of their acts.”
