Palestinian Khalid al Mughir, also having Bulgarian citizenship, was kidnapped on the night of July 4 from his home in Gaza.

Novinar newspaper reported that radical Palestinian group Hamas was behind the kidnapping.

Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the information.

Al Mughir was to be evacuated with the group of Bulgarians that wished to leave Gaza and travel to Bulgaria. He is married to a Bulgarian and supports Al Fatah party.

Foreign Ministry officials already met the Palestinian ambassador to Bulgaria asking him for co-operation. Palestinian authorities were asked to do everything possible to guarantee the freedom of the man.

Palestinian embassy officials said that the kidnapping was part of the Hamas strategy to forcefully purge the Palestinian territory from Al Fatah supporters.

Deputy Foreign Minister Feim Chaushev said that the evacuation of Bulgarians from Gaza will start on July 5. The group will travel through Jordan to Bulgaria.