Hamas Claims It Captured an Israeli Soldier, Celebrations Erupt in Gaza (UPDATE: Israeli Official Denies Hamas Claim)

UPDATE 11:10 p.m.: Ron Prosor, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, denied the Hamas claim of the captured soldier.

"There's no kidnapped Israeli soldier, and those rumors are untrue," Prosor said, CNN reported.

Original story below

Hamas claimed it captured an Israeli soldier Sunday, resulting in gunfire and cheers erupting in Gaza in apparent celebration, CNN reporters on the ground said.

Palestinians dance while flying a Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement flag reading in Arabic "there is only one God and Muhammad is his prophet," during celebrations in the West bank city of Ramallah, late Sunday, July 20, 2014. The Hamas' armed wing said it has captured an Israeli soldier during fighting in the Gaza Strip. Speaking on a Hamas television station, spokesman Abu Ubaida said "we have captured a Zionist soldier and the occupation has not admitted that." The claim could not immediately be verified and the Israeli military said it was investigating the report. (Image source: AP/Nasser Nasser)

CNN correspondent Karl Penhaul said during an on-air segment that when the announcement of the capture went out on Gaza TV, "all around we heard from apartment buildings loud cheers, clapping going up from ordinary citizens" as well as gunfire in the distance.

Palestinians, one wearing a Jay Faux mask, wave Palestinian flags and a black flag reading in Arabic "there is only one God and Muhammad is his prophet," during celebrations in the West bank city of Ramallah, late Sunday, July 20, 2014. The Hamas' armed wing said it has captured an Israeli soldier during fighting in the Gaza Strip. (Image source: AP/Nasser Nasser)

Al Jazeera echoed the report:

The solider was taken during an early morning operation, CNN reported, citing Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas' military wing, al-Qassam Brigades.

The spokesman provided the alleged name and ID of the soldier, saying, "He is a prisoner, and if Zionists lie about the dead and wounded, then the fate of this soldier is their responsibility."

There was no immediate comment from Israel, CNN noted, adding that Israel Defense Forces said it was aware of the report and looking into it.

"It's a game changer, immediately, because it's going to change what the Israelis are doing on the ground in that sector," CNN military analyst Lt. Col. Rick Francona said. "They're going to be looking for him."

"Overall, the Israeli strategy is not going to change. They're committed to this mission," Francona noted, but added that at some point the Israelis are "going to have to make some sort of accommodation to get this guy back."

In 2006, Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured. He was released some five years later in exchange for more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners.