New Delhi:After BBC journalist Alan Johnston, it's now the turn of a lioness to be rescued in Gaza who was kidnapped at gunpoint in 2005 from a private zoo.
Gunmen had stolen two-year-old lioness Sabrina from the zoo two years after Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza.
Hamas forces, which now control Gaza, located her at the hideout of a drug smuggler and have returned her to the zoo.
The Islamic movement's executive force found the big cat, minus four teeth, claws and part of her tail, during a raid on a notorious local crime family. After an exchange of fire, the force commander, Abu Hamam al-Deeb, said they also seized drugs and weapons
She's missing her claws, four teeth and part of her tail but is otherwise fine. Her brother Sakher was there to welcome her home.
The zoo's owner, Saoud al-Shawwa, told reporters, "We will start a long, arduous treatment to ensure she can survive. She will only eat minced meat from now on, so we feel sorry for her. They should punish the criminals who did this."
Hamas acted after a local arts and cultural society named the thieves. It lodged a complaint after the lioness was spotted in a Gaza photography studio during a Muslim holiday. Her captors were said to be charging about 50 pence for people to have their picture taken with her.
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