Two US brothers detained in Gaza now being held in Israeli prison, US official says

Source: CNN

Two US brothers detained in Gaza now being held in Israeli prison, US official says

By Alex Marquardt, Yahya Abou-Ghazala and Jennifer Hansler, CNN
2 minute read
Published 10:50 PM EST, Thu February 22, 2024

(CNN) — Two American brothers who were detained in Gaza earlier this month by Israeli forces are being held in Ashkelon prison, a US official tells CNN. Ashkelon is in central Israel just north of the Gaza Strip.

The US has renewed its request for consular access to Borak Alagha, 18, and Hashem Alagha, 20, who were born and raised in Chicago in their early childhood, the official said, adding that their location has been shared with their family.

The brothers were “arrested for collaboration with Hamas,” Israel’s Consul General to the Midwest, Yinam Cohen, told CNN on Thursday. No other details were offered.

When asked for comment, the IDF told CNN the brothers are not in their custody, referring questions to the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A lawyer for the family rejected the Israeli accusations, calling them “baseless accusations and smears.”

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Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/22/politics/us-brothers-detained-gaza/index.html