Cairo ( CNN ) -- Egyptian authorities said Sunday they are preparing for a new round of negotiations with the man who has kidnapped two Americans and an Egyptian tour guide to demand his uncle 's release from an Alexandria jail . Gen. Ahmed Bakr , the head of security in Egypt 's northern Sinai Peninsula , says Bedouin sheikhs who are acting as mediators have confirmed the hostages `` are unharmed and well fed . '' They include Michel Louis , the pastor of a Pentecostal church in Boston ; Lisa Alphonse , a parishoner at another American church ; and an Egyptian tour guide . Authorities have identified the hostage-taker as Germy Abu Masouh , a member of a prominent Bedouin tribe in the Sinai . He wants Egyptian police to free his uncle , whom Bakr said had been caught in Alexandria with a half-ton of drugs . Bakr said negotiators include top intelligence and police officials . `` We hope to reach a resolution soon , '' he said . `` Germy has threatened to kidnap more tourists if his demands are not met . '' Abu Masouh told Egyptian news outlets that Louis , the pastor of Boston 's Free Pentecostal Church of God , had been allowed to call his wife , who had been on the same bus . However , the minister 's son , Daniel Louis , cast doubt on that claim Sunday afternoon . `` We have spoken to my mother , and my mother has told us that she has not spoken to my father , '' he said . Michel Louis suffers from diabetes , and the family does n't know whether he has his medication , his son said . Another son , Jean Louis , told CNN earlier Sunday that the captive Americans were part of a group that was on its way to Israel . `` As the tour bus was in an area of the Sinai peninsula of Egypt , they were stopped by a couple of cars , '' Jean Louis told CNN 's `` Early Start Weekend '' show . `` In the cars were some gentlemen who got onto the bus . They detained both my father ... . and another woman who was part of the group on their way to Israel . '' The family is praying for the safety of their father and the other kidnap victims , he said . `` We are concerned , but we 're Christians . We believe in God . We 're resolved in our faith , we know that God is going to see him out of the situation , '' he said . Jean Louis said the family was not aware of security concerns about travel across the Sinai , where Americans had been kidnapped and swiftly released in two separate incidents since February . `` If we were aware , I would believe we would use correct judgment not to enter that area , '' Jean Louis said . Bakr said the situation `` is partially the fault of the travel agency , '' which he said had not informed police of their route . If it had , `` we would have sent a police escort , '' he said . Authorities say the captives are still in the area where they were abducted . Kidnappings and armed robberies have increased since a popular uprising ousted Egypt 's long-ruling dictator , Hosni Mubarak , last year . In a message posted on Twitter on Friday , the U.S. Embassy in Cairo said it was `` in close touch with Egyptian authorities , who are doing everything they can to bring about safe release of the American tourists . '' CNN 's Mohamed Fadel Fahmy reported from Cairo and Saad Abedine , from Atlanta . Richard Allen Greene and Randi Kaye contributed to this story .
NEW : The captives are `` are unharmed and well fed , '' an Egyptian official says . NEW : A senior U.S. military officer tells CNN that the hostages were not killed in a raid but rather executed by militants who entered their compound with guns drawn. Security official : Bedouin kidnappers want the release of a relative held on drug charges . Kidnappings and robberies are up since longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year .