Report: Arab-Israeli kidnapped in Gaza
Palestinian sources report that man was abducted, his wife lightly wounded by unidentified Palestinian gunmen while returning from family visit in Beit Lahiya. Motives yet unclear
An Israeli Arab man was kidnapped on Friday and his wife was shot near the main passenger crossing from the Gaza Strip to Israel, Palestinian security officials said.
The motive behind the kidnapping was not yet clear.
Witnesses told Ynet that the man, Riyadh al-Louh, and his wife, Khatima al-Louh, were ambushed by unidentified gunmen as they were returning from a family visit in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya.
Khatima al-Louh was shot in the foot and slightly injured, and Riyadh al-Louh was abducted, officials said.
The kidnapping appeared to have been related to a family feud, security officials said, but declined to provide further details.
The woman was evacuated to hospital in Gaza.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz last week granted permission to Arab Israelis with relatives in Gaza to enter the Strip during celebrations of Eid al-Fitr.
Chairman of the United Arab List-Ta'al faction Talab el-Sana censured the incident, saying "kidnapping is unacceptable and inhumane."
Wave of kidnappings in PA
The kidnapping is the most recent in a series of such incidents in Gaza recently. At the start of the month a student from the United States volunteering in the West Bank was kidnapped by Palestinian gunmen, who later demanded prisoners released in return. He was freed a few hours later.
Last week a Spanish photographer working for the Associated Press news agency was abducted, then also freed a few hours later.
New agencies contributed to the report
