Israeli officials reported today that three Israelis have been held since Saturday by Egyptians in the Gaza Strip, after they lost their way near a border post. They were handed over to the Egyptians by United Nations Emergency Force officials.
The three are David Hanuka, 40; his son, Shmuel, 13; and a neighbor, Obed Meir, 23. They had gone to search for supplies and watermelons, and became lost near the Erez border post. Three Arab farmers beckoned them to approach and they left their truck and started toward the farmers.
A routine UNEF patrol appeared at that moment and the Arabs ran away. The UN soldiers loaded the three Israelis into their vehicle and handed them over to Egyptian authorities in Gaza. Israel asked the United Nations officials to act promptly to have the three returned as quickly as possible.
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