Four Egyptian army officers and three policemen traveling in a taxi on vacation were abducted by Jihadist gunmen in Sinai, along the border to Israel. They said the gunmen were demanding the release of suspects accused of killing Egyptian officers in an attack on el-Arish police station in August. The ambush took place in Wadi al-Akhdar, between el-Arish and Sheikh Zuweid.

The officers were taken to a desert area near al-Arjra, and the kidnappers planned to send them to Gaza via smuggling tunnels, the PA (Palestinian Authority) Ma’an news agency repots quoting security officials.

An official in Egypt’s Interior Ministry promised a harsh response if the officers were not released.

15:37:

At least one of the policemen has been released. Hamas reportedly maintaining high alert along smuggling tunnels from Egypt into Gaza.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)