Family of mentally ill captive accuses Hamas of hypocrisy

The family of Avera Mengistu, an Israeli held captive by Hamas, spoke out against the terrorist group on Saturday, accusing it of hypocrisy.

The family's message was disseminated in response to a Hamas condemnation of film footage showing Egyptian soldiers shooting and killing a mentally ill resident of Gaza who crossed the border into Egypt.

"A year and three months ago, Avera crossed the border into Gaza from the same reasons [of mental illness.] Instead of returning him to his family, as would be expected of any other person or ruling body, Hamas is holding him and refusing to provide any information about his condition," the statement said.

"It's infuriating and horrifying that a terrorist organization that holds a mentally ill person captive dates to cry out that [the Egyptian army's act] 'should be condemned and violates all laws and humanitarian conventions,' and is even demanding that those responsible be tried," Mengistu's family said.

In July of this year, Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk made public statements refuting the reports that Mengistu suffered from mental illness.

Marzouk told Al Jazeera that "the claims that he is crazy are lies by Israel."

Marzouk said that during his interrogation, Mengistu had been able to discussion cease-fire negotiations that were then underway in Cairo, arguing that a mentally ill person would not have been capable of doing so.