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Israeli Forces Kill 2 Suspects in Murder of Jewish Teenagers Israeli Forces Kill 2 Palestinian Suspects in Murders of Jewish Teenagers
(about 3 hours later)
JERUSALEM — Israeli troops closed a significant chapter in this summer’s bloody escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Tuesday by cornering and killing the two men they suspected of kidnapping and murdering three Israeli teenagers in June. JERUSALEM — Israeli troops closed a significant chapter in the summer’s bloody escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Tuesday by cornering and killing the two men they suspected of kidnapping and murdering three Israeli teenagers in June.
Israeli military officials said the two suspects, Marwan Qawasmeh, 29, and Amer Abu Aisha, 33, had been holed up for a week in a two-story building in the West Bank city of Hebron, and refused to surrender when Israeli special forces units surrounded the building before dawn. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a military spokesman, said the two men “came out shooting” and that one was “killed on the spot,” while the other fell back into the destroyed building, where the troops then tossed grenades. Israeli military officials said the two suspects, Marwan Qawasmeh, 29, and Amer Abu Aisha, 33, had been holed up for a week in a two-story building in the West Bank city of Hebron, and refused to surrender when Israeli special forces units surrounded the building before dawn. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a military spokesman, said the two men “came out shooting.” One was “killed on the spot,” he said, while the other fell back into the destroyed building, where the troops then tossed grenades.
The two men, who were affiliated with Hamas, the militant Islamist movement, were hailed as heroes at their funerals in Hebron on Tuesday afternoon. Hundreds of mourners who walked behind the white-shrouded body of Mr. Abu Aisha shouted, “Go on, Hamas, you’re our dignity, and we’re your bullets.”The two men, who were affiliated with Hamas, the militant Islamist movement, were hailed as heroes at their funerals in Hebron on Tuesday afternoon. Hundreds of mourners who walked behind the white-shrouded body of Mr. Abu Aisha shouted, “Go on, Hamas, you’re our dignity, and we’re your bullets.”
Earlier in the day, Israeli forces shot and wounded a Palestinian man during a protest in Hebron in which several hundred people threw rocks and firebombs and burned tires, an Israeli military spokeswoman said.Earlier in the day, Israeli forces shot and wounded a Palestinian man during a protest in Hebron in which several hundred people threw rocks and firebombs and burned tires, an Israeli military spokeswoman said.
The abduction of the Israeli teenagers and the crackdown that followed fueled tensions and intensifying violence that culminated in a seven-week battle between Israeli forces and Hamas, which dominates the Gaza Strip. The three teenagers — Naftali Fraenkel and Gilad Shaar, both 16, and Eyal Yifrach, 19 — were hitchhiking home from the yeshivas they attended in the occupied West Bank when they were kidnapped on June 12.The abduction of the Israeli teenagers and the crackdown that followed fueled tensions and intensifying violence that culminated in a seven-week battle between Israeli forces and Hamas, which dominates the Gaza Strip. The three teenagers — Naftali Fraenkel and Gilad Shaar, both 16, and Eyal Yifrach, 19 — were hitchhiking home from the yeshivas they attended in the occupied West Bank when they were kidnapped on June 12.
After their bodies were found 18 days later under a pile of rocks in an open field not far from Hebron, three Jewish extremists abducted a Palestinian 16-year-old old, Muhammad Abu Khdeir, in his East Jerusalem neighborhood of Shuafat, beat him and burned him alive as an act of retaliation. After their bodies were found 18 days later under a pile of rocks in an open field not far from Hebron, three Jewish extremists abducted a Palestinian teenager, Muhammad Abu Khdeir, 16, in his East Jerusalem neighborhood of Shuafat, beat him and burned him alive as an act of retaliation.
Within days of the West Bank kidnapping, Israel blamed Hamas, whose leaders at first denied knowing anything about it. In recent weeks, though, and again on Tuesday, several Hamas officials embraced the suspected kidnappers as members of their armed wing and praised their actions, though no evidence has yet been made public showing that the men acted on Hamas’s direction.Within days of the West Bank kidnapping, Israel blamed Hamas, whose leaders at first denied knowing anything about it. In recent weeks, though, and again on Tuesday, several Hamas officials embraced the suspected kidnappers as members of their armed wing and praised their actions, though no evidence has yet been made public showing that the men acted on Hamas’s direction.
“We are proud of you, and our people will not forget your jihad,” Hussam Bardan, a Hamas spokesman, said of Mr. Qawasmeh and Mr. Abu Aisha, in a statement circulated on social media. “You trampled the occupation’s nose in the dirt and destroyed its so-called security legend.”“We are proud of you, and our people will not forget your jihad,” Hussam Bardan, a Hamas spokesman, said of Mr. Qawasmeh and Mr. Abu Aisha, in a statement circulated on social media. “You trampled the occupation’s nose in the dirt and destroyed its so-called security legend.”
Other Palestinians denounced the shootout early Tuesday as an extrajudicial assassination. The news of the killing caused a delay of several hours in the resumption of indirect talks between Israelis and the Palestinians in Cairo, on the terms for continuing the Aug. 26 cease-fire that halted the hostilities in and around Gaza. Some Palestinians denounced the shootout early Tuesday as an extrajudicial assassination. The news of the killing caused a delay of several hours in the resumption of indirect talks between Israelis and the Palestinians in Cairo, on the terms for continuing the Aug. 26 cease-fire that halted the hostilities in and around Gaza.
More than 2,100 Palestinians, about 500 of them children, were killed during the 50 days of fighting, along with 67 Israeli soldiers and six civilians in Israel. Hamas and other militant groups fired more than 4,000 rockets into Israel, while Israeli forces destroyed more than 10,000 homes and many other buildings across Gaza through airstrikes and a ground invasion.
Mr. Qawasmeh, a barber, had served several terms in Israeli prisons and was part of a huge extended family in Hebron with Hamas connections. Mr. Abu Aisha also had served prison time, and was in a coma for a time after a swimming accident in 2007.Mr. Qawasmeh, a barber, had served several terms in Israeli prisons and was part of a huge extended family in Hebron with Hamas connections. Mr. Abu Aisha also had served prison time, and was in a coma for a time after a swimming accident in 2007.
“My kids are happy that the bad guys are gone,” Rachel Fraenkel, mother of Naftali and six surviving children, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “We were worried about these two dangerous people, with weapons, having nothing to lose, being out there. It’s a relief to know that they won’t hurt any other innocent people.”“My kids are happy that the bad guys are gone,” Rachel Fraenkel, mother of Naftali and six surviving children, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “We were worried about these two dangerous people, with weapons, having nothing to lose, being out there. It’s a relief to know that they won’t hurt any other innocent people.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel spoke to the parents of the murdered teenagers on Tuesday. Afterward, his office said, Mr. Netanyahu told his cabinet: “There is nothing that will take away their pain, and there is nothing that will return these amazing dear boys, but I said to them, there is accounting of justice.”Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel spoke to the parents of the murdered teenagers on Tuesday. Afterward, his office said, Mr. Netanyahu told his cabinet: “There is nothing that will take away their pain, and there is nothing that will return these amazing dear boys, but I said to them, there is accounting of justice.”
Two relatives of Mr. Qawasmeh who are suspected of assisting the kidnappers are facing trial. Three more — sons of Arafat Qawasmeh, who was arrested in July — were detained by Israeli forces during the operation Tuesday morning. Hussam Qawasmeh was indicted earlier this month and is suspected of being the logistical commander of the Hamas cell responsible for the abduction. Israeli officials say he handled $60,000 that was sent in five installments from Gaza to purchase two cars, two M-16 rifles and two pistols that were used in the kidnapping. Two relatives of Mr. Qawasmeh who are suspected of assisting the kidnappers are facing trial. Three more — sons of Arafat Qawasmeh, who was arrested in July — were detained by Israeli forces during the operation Tuesday morning. Hussam Qawasmeh was indicted this month and is suspected of being the logistical commander of the Hamas cell responsible for the abduction. Israeli officials say he handled $60,000 that was sent in five installments from Gaza to purchase two cars, two M-16 rifles and two pistols that were used in the kidnapping.
The bodies of the teenagers were found on a hilly expanse outside Hebron owned by the Qawasmeh family. Thousands of soldiers were involved in the search, in which hundreds of Palestinians, many connected to Hamas, were arrested.The bodies of the teenagers were found on a hilly expanse outside Hebron owned by the Qawasmeh family. Thousands of soldiers were involved in the search, in which hundreds of Palestinians, many connected to Hamas, were arrested.
The building where the suspects were killed on Tuesday — also owned by the Qawasmeh family — sits on a hillside in an urban area of north Hebron, next to Al Rubat Mosque. It contained a carpentry workshop and several stores including a shoe store. Colonel Lerner, the Israeli military spokesman, said troops used a tractor to breach the structure around first light on Tuesday. Hours after the confrontation ended, the smell of burned leather and iron remained strong, and the iron gates to the workshop appeared to have been sprayed with bullets. The building where the suspects were killed on Tuesday — also owned by the Qawasmeh family — sits on a hillside in an urban area of north Hebron, next to Al Rubat Mosque. It contained a carpentry workshop and several shops, including a shoe store. Colonel Lerner, the Israeli military spokesman, said troops used a tractor to breach the structure around first light on Tuesday. Hours after the confrontation ended, the smell of burned leather and iron remained strong, and the iron gates to the workshop appeared to have been sprayed with bullets.
“I came here to see the barbaric action committed by Israel,” said Ahmad Ab Laban, 50, one of several people from the neighborhood.“I came here to see the barbaric action committed by Israel,” said Ahmad Ab Laban, 50, one of several people from the neighborhood.