Israel's UN envoy denies Israeli soldier abducted by Hamas

Israel's UN ambassador has denied that an Israeli soldier had been abducted by Hamas militants.

"There is no kidnapped Israeli soldier and those rumours are untrue," said Ambassador Ron Prosor when asked about the kidnapping yesterday.

The armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas group claimed late yesterday that it had kidnapped an Israeli soldier, prompting celebrations in the streets of Gaza City.

"The Israeli soldier Shaul Aaron is in the hands of the Qassam Brigades," a spokesman using the nom-de-guerre Abu Obeida said in a televised address.