Gaza authorities say two newborn lion cubs just unveiled by Hamas as prized additions in a zoo they run have died. Mohammad Abdel-Rahman, the acting manager of the Beit Lahiya zoo in northern Gaza, said Thursday the cubs died of an unspecified illness. He said the zoo's staff was unable to save them because they lacked experience in caring for newborn cubs.

Hamas unveiled the cubs – a male and a female – and named them for last year's war between Hamas militants and Israel. One was named Fajr after an Iranian-type missile used in the fighting. The other was called Sejil for the name of the campaign. Their mother, a four-year-old African lioness, was smuggled into Gaza via tunnels from Egypt. Gaza zoos have a spotty animal welfare record.

A pair of African lions, new parents of a male, Fajer, and a female, Sejeel, rest at Besan Zoo in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, November 19, 2013. For the first time in the Gaza Strip, a lion has given birth to two cubs, on Sunday evening. The 6 year-old African lion, which was smuggled through the tunnels four years ago, gave birth in normal conditions according to the northern Gaza Besan Zoo. The manger has named the male cub Fajer in reference to the Iranian made Fajer rockets which were used during 8 days of fighting between Gaza militants and Israel in 2012, and the female Sejeel, the name which Hamas called their offensive. (Photo by Hatem Moussa/AP Photo)

Two-day-old lion cubs Fajr and Sjel are seen at a zoo in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, on November 19, 2013. The cubs' mother and father were smuggled into the Gaza Strip from Egypt four years ago to live in a Hamas-run public zoo. It is the first time in years that cubs are born in the Palestinian coastal enclave. (Photo by Mohammed Abed/AFP Photo)

A Palestinian worker feeds an African lion cub, Fajer, foreground, as his sister, Sejeel, right, crawls around at Besan Zoo in Beit Lahiya northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013. (Photo by Hatem Moussa/AP Photo)

Two-day-old lion cubs Fajr and Sjel are seen at a zoo in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, on November 19, 2013. (Photo by Mohammed Abed/AFP Photo)

African lion cubs, Fajer, right, and his sister, Sejeel, left, rest after feeding at Besan Zoo in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, November 19, 2013. (Photo by Hatem Moussa/AP Photo)

Two-day-old lion cubs Fajr and Sjel are seen at a zoo in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, on November 19, 2013. (Photo by Mohammed Abed/AFP Photo)

Two-day-old lion cubs Fajr and Sjel are seen at a zoo in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, on November 19, 2013. (Photo by Mohammed Abed/AFP Photo)

Two-day-old lion cubs Fajr and Sjel are fed at a zoo in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, on November 19, 2013. (Photo by Mohammed Abed/AFP Photo)