Joly, U.S. seek clarity from Israel on Canadians taken into custody from Gaza Strip

American and Canadian officials say they are still trying to sort out what caused the Israeli military to take citizens from their home in the Gaza Strip.

American and Canadian officials say they are still trying to sort out what caused the Israeli military to take citizens from their home in the Gaza Strip.

"We fear, to be honest, for their lives," said Khalil Alagha, the brother-in-law of one of three missing Canadians. 

"Because we don't know whether they have been only detained, or something else."

Members of the Alagha family say Ahmed Alagha and his two sons were taken into custody by Israeli forces last week. 

Israel's military confirmed to The Canadian Press that it took at least two people into custody, but would not provide a total number or an on-the-record explanation Monday as to why they are being held. 

Ahmed was born in Kuwait, and moved to Toronto in the late 1990s. That's where his sons Borak, 18, and Hashem, 20, were born, his brother-in-law said Monday. The family eventually moved to the Middle East.

Earlier reports based on information from another family member said Ahmed was born in Canada and his sons were born in the U.S.