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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Abducted Israeli teens found dead near Hebron | Abducted Israeli teens found dead near Hebron |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three Israeli teenagers who were abducted earlier this month in the West Bank have been found dead. | |
| An Israeli military spokesman said their bodies were found in a pit near the town of Halhul, north of Hebron. | An Israeli military spokesman said their bodies were found in a pit near the town of Halhul, north of Hebron. |
| Naftali Frenkel and Gilad Shaar, both aged 16, and 19-year-old Eyal Yifrach were last seen at a junction near Hebron as they hitchhiked home. | Naftali Frenkel and Gilad Shaar, both aged 16, and 19-year-old Eyal Yifrach were last seen at a junction near Hebron as they hitchhiked home. |
| Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas was responsible, a claim the Palestinian militant group has denied. | Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas was responsible, a claim the Palestinian militant group has denied. |
| At the start of a meeting of the Israeli security cabinet, Mr Netanyahu said the three were "kidnapped and murdered in cold blood by animals" and promised: "Hamas will pay". | At the start of a meeting of the Israeli security cabinet, Mr Netanyahu said the three were "kidnapped and murdered in cold blood by animals" and promised: "Hamas will pay". |
| But Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told the AFP news agency that any action to punish the movement would "open the gates of hell". | But Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told the AFP news agency that any action to punish the movement would "open the gates of hell". |
| Analysis: Yolande Knell, BBC News, Jerusalem | Analysis: Yolande Knell, BBC News, Jerusalem |
| This site where the teenagers' bodies were found is just 10 minutes' drive from where the young Israelis were last seen two-and-a-half weeks ago. | This site where the teenagers' bodies were found is just 10 minutes' drive from where the young Israelis were last seen two-and-a-half weeks ago. |
| Halhul is a turnoff from Route 60 - a busy road connecting the southern West Bank with Jerusalem. I watched Israeli soldiers operate a roadblock at this junction in the first days of their search. | Halhul is a turnoff from Route 60 - a busy road connecting the southern West Bank with Jerusalem. I watched Israeli soldiers operate a roadblock at this junction in the first days of their search. |
| Israeli officials accuse the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas of killing the young Israelis. There are now calls for the group to be "eradicated". | Israeli officials accuse the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas of killing the young Israelis. There are now calls for the group to be "eradicated". |
| These deaths are a tragedy for the families of the Israeli students, but they could also have deep political implications. | These deaths are a tragedy for the families of the Israeli students, but they could also have deep political implications. |
| Israel's Shin Bet security service earlier said the main suspects in the case were two men named Marwan Qawasmeh and Amer Abu Aisheh and that they were "Hamas operatives". | Israel's Shin Bet security service earlier said the main suspects in the case were two men named Marwan Qawasmeh and Amer Abu Aisheh and that they were "Hamas operatives". |
| Forensic teams were in the area and searches were continuing in an effort to capture "all those involved in this attack", it added. | Forensic teams were in the area and searches were continuing in an effort to capture "all those involved in this attack", it added. |
| 'Deep grief' | |
| Israeli security forces have set up blockades and closed down whole areas around Halhul, which is just a few kilometres from where the teenagers were last seen. | Israeli security forces have set up blockades and closed down whole areas around Halhul, which is just a few kilometres from where the teenagers were last seen. |
| Israeli Economy Minister Naftali Bennett wrote on Facebook: "Murderers of children and those who direct them cannot be forgiven. Now is a time for actions, not words." | Israeli Economy Minister Naftali Bennett wrote on Facebook: "Murderers of children and those who direct them cannot be forgiven. Now is a time for actions, not words." |
| Israeli President Shimon Peres said the "whole nation is in deep grief". | |
| "Amid our deep sorrow, we remain determined to fiercely punish the criminal terrorists," he added. | |
| Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called an emergency meeting of the Palestinian leadership to discuss the teenagers' deaths. | Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called an emergency meeting of the Palestinian leadership to discuss the teenagers' deaths. |
| Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri wrote on Facebook : "The occupation bears responsibility for escalation. Netanyahu tries to turn the picture upside down and he must understand his threats do not terrify us." | |
| International condemnation | |
| US President Barack Obama White House has condemned the "senseless act of terror against innocent youth," and urged "all parties to refrain from steps that could further destabilize the situation". | |
| One of the teenagers, Naftali Frenkel, held dual Israeli-American citizenship. | |
| A spokesman for Pope Francis, in the Vatican, condemned the killing of the teenagers as a "hideous and unacceptable crime" and "a grave obstacle on the path towards peace," Reuters reports. | |
| Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on both sides to "refrain from any actions that could further escalate this highly tense situation". | |
| The abduction of the three Jewish seminary students on 12 June sparked a huge search operation in Palestinian towns and cities across the West Bank. | The abduction of the three Jewish seminary students on 12 June sparked a huge search operation in Palestinian towns and cities across the West Bank. |
| More than 400 Palestinians have been arrested, while five have been killed in fighting with Israeli troops. | More than 400 Palestinians have been arrested, while five have been killed in fighting with Israeli troops. |
| Earlier, there were reports of clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians in the Halhul area. | Earlier, there were reports of clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians in the Halhul area. |
| The case has put serious strain on relations between Israel and the Palestinians. | The case has put serious strain on relations between Israel and the Palestinians. |
| Mr Netanyahu has said the incident is a consequence of "the partnership" between Hamas and the Fatah movement of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The two signed a reconciliation deal in April after years of division and formed a unity government earlier this month. | Mr Netanyahu has said the incident is a consequence of "the partnership" between Hamas and the Fatah movement of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The two signed a reconciliation deal in April after years of division and formed a unity government earlier this month. |