CNN —Two American brothers who were detained in Gaza earlier this month by Israeli forces are being held in Ashkelon prison, a US official tells CNN. The brothers were “arrested for collaboration with Hamas,” Israel’s Consul General to the Midwest, Yinam Cohen, told CNN on Thursday. When asked for comment, the IDF told CNN the brothers are not in their custody, referring questions to the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As CNN previously reported, the brothers were among a group of roughly 20 men detained by IDF soldiers early on February 8, according to the brothers’ cousin Yasmeen Elagha. IDF did not respond to CNN’s request for comment at the time on the matter.

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Persons: Alagha, Hashem Alagha, ”, Yinam Cohen, Maria Kari, Hashem, Borak’s, ” Kari, Yasmeen Elagha, –, Elagha Organizations: CNN, US, IDF, Israeli Security Agency, “ Locations: Gaza, Ashkelon, Israel, Chicago