Gunmen kidnap Belgian, Dutch teachers north of Gaza City

[Behind the Aegis]

Palestinian gunmen abducted two foreign teachers as they were driving north of Gaza City on Wednesday, witnesses said.

The foreigners were identified only as a Belgian and a Dutch. Their car was stopped by unidentified armed men who forced them into their vehicle and drove them to an unknown destination.

The school administration confirmed that two faculty members were missing and sent its students home.

About 100 students are enrolled in the elite private school, north of Gaza City.

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[bemildred]

1. Update 8: Two Teachers Abducted in Gaza Released

Two Dutch and Australian educators kidnapped Wednesday by Palestinian gunmen were released hours after their abduction, witnesses said.

They were seized on their way to work and taken to an undisclosed location. Gunmen with ties to radical PLO faction, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, claimed responsibility, demanding the release of an imprisoned militant leader.

The hostages were released at the Gaza City office of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Students of the American International School in Gaza and their parents whistled, clapped and cheered as Dutch principal Hendrik Taatgen and his Australian deputy, Brian Ambrosio, stepped out of a car.

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[Behind the Aegis]

2. Thank G-d!

I has hoping the "capture and release" 'program' that has been occurring would continue and they would be released unharmed.

However, why are they doing this? Why kidnap someone, only to release them hours after, with no demands or reasons?

[bemildred]

3. Could be stupidity, but that's just a guess.

Or maybe they realized no ransom would be forthcoming.
That's the thing about civil chaos, it's chaotic.