WASHINGTON (JTA) — Obama administration officials called Hamas’ apparent capture of an Israeli soldier in the hours a cease-fire was supposed to be in effect “barbaric” and “outrageous.”

“That would be a rather barbaric violation of the ceasefire agreement,” Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, told CNN on Friday, referring to the apparent capture Friday morning of 2nd Lt. Hadar Goldin in a firefight Israel says took place in the southern Gaza Strip hours after a humanitarian cease-fire was in place.

“This is an outrageous action and we look to the rest of the world to join us in condemning it,” Tony Blinken, a deputy national security adviser, told MSNBC.

Hamas has yet to confirm that it captured Goldin, 23, a Givati soldier from Kefar Saba. Two other Israeli soldiers were killed in the firefight.

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