US seeks information on detention of two American citizens in Gaza

A State Department spokesperson said on Thursday that the United States has been informed of the detention of two American citizens in Gaza.

The US government is actively pursuing further details regarding their situation, the spokesperson said.

Citing privacy concerns, the department refrained from disclosing the identities of the two American citizens.

According to Reuters, relatives of 20-year-old Hashem Alagha and 18-year-old Borak Alagha, both US-Palestinian dual nationals, reported that the siblings were apprehended during a morning operation targeting a residence to the west of Khan Younis city on Thursday.

In addition to the brothers, four family members were taken into custody, among them the brothers’ father, who holds Canadian citizenship, and an uncle with a mental disability, shared Yasmeen Elagha, a cousin residing near Chicago.