UNITED NATIONS – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling on Palestinians in Gaza with knowledge of two missing Israeli civilians to provide information about their possible whereabouts and conditions.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Monday the secretary-general is also calling for prompt action to facilitate their safe return to their families.
Israeli defense officials identified one of the men as Avraham Mengistu, an Israeli of Ethiopian descent in his late 20s who "independently" entered Gaza on Sept. 7, 2014, two weeks after the end of Israel's war with Hamas, which controls Gaza.
Israel said the second man was a Bedouin Arab citizen from southern Israel but gave no further information.
Dujarric said Ban "underscores the responsibility of all parties to protect and respect the rights of civilians," and will continue to closely monitor developments.
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