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GAZA - The two soldiers whose seizure by Hizbollah guerrillas triggered the 35-day Lebanon war were seriously wounded in the incident, the Israeli military confirmed for the first time yesterday.
The disclosure, after official censorship was lifted on the information, will fuel fears that Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser may have died from the wounds they sustained in the cross-border attack on July 12. Three other soldiers were killed.
Hizbollah has refused to give details about the fate of the two soldiers ahead of the prisoner release they are demanding. Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, has said that he will not contemplate an exchange until he has a sign that they are alive. Hizbollah has refused to give information on the prisoners to the International Red Cross.
Hizbollah's reticence is in stark contrast to Hamas, whose Gaza militants were among those who seized the Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit. Hamas has repeatedly said that Shalit is alive and being treated well. Olmert has said he is ready to release prisoners in return for Shalit's release and Egyptian-brokered negotiations have been taking place.
- INDEPENDENT
