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Israeli forces kill 2 suspects in kidnap, murder of 3 teens Israeli forces kill two Hamas members suspected in kidnap, killing of three teens
(about 2 hours later)
JERUSALEM — Israeli forces early Tuesday shot and killed two Hamas operatives suspected of kidnapping and murdering three Israeli teenagers this summer. JERUSALEM — Israeli forces early Tuesday shot and killed two Hamas operatives suspected of kidnapping and killing three Israeli teenagers this summer.
The abduction of the three students, and the Israeli military sweep and mass arrests of Hamas members in the West Bank that followed, was part of a series of events that led to the 50-day war in Gaza. The abduction of the three students, and the Israeli military’s sweep and mass arrests of Hamas members in the West Bank that followed, was part of a series of events that led to the 50-day war in Gaza.
Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said the two suspects were surrounded by Israeli forces at a workshop in Hebron where they were hiding. Lerner said there was a brief exchange of gunfire and Marwan Kawasmeh, 29, and Amer Abu Aisha, 32, were killed as they emerged from the building. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli military spokesman, said the two suspects were surrounded by Israeli forces at a workshop in Hebron, where they were hiding. He said that there was a brief exchange of gunfire and that Marwan Kawasmeh, 29, and Amer Abu Aisha, 32, were killed as they emerged from the building.
Lerner said that the two Palestinians had been hiding in the structure for about a week and that military intelligence indicated they were armed.
“We went in understanding that they intended to fight and they came out with guns blazing,” said Lerner, describing how the army used a digger machine to penetrate the outside of the structure, which was two floors high.
As the army broke through the concrete, the two men came out shooting, and one of the fugitives was killed on the spot, he said. The second man ran back inside the building, apparently wounded, and the special forces threw in grenades.
The head of the Israeli military in the West Bank, Brig. Gen. Avi Yedai, told Israel Radio that the kidnappers had been given a chance to surrender.The head of the Israeli military in the West Bank, Brig. Gen. Avi Yedai, told Israel Radio that the kidnappers had been given a chance to surrender.
A Hamas spokesman in Qatar confirmed the deaths of their members after “a journey of self sacrifice.”A Hamas spokesman in Qatar confirmed the deaths of their members after “a journey of self sacrifice.”
Salah Bradaweel, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said the group “mourns the two martyrs ... who were murdered by the Zionists this morning.”Salah Bradaweel, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said the group “mourns the two martyrs ... who were murdered by the Zionists this morning.”
The spokesman said the deaths of the two Palestinian suspects would not have taken place without the security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.The spokesman said the deaths of the two Palestinian suspects would not have taken place without the security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
“We call on the Palestinian people in the West Bank to express their anger in the face of the Zionist occupation and the security coordination,” Bardaweel said.“We call on the Palestinian people in the West Bank to express their anger in the face of the Zionist occupation and the security coordination,” Bardaweel said.
Natftali Fraenkel and Gilad Shaar, both 16, and Eyal Yifrach, 19, were abducted on June 12 while hitchhiking home from their religious schools in the West Bank. The abductions and search for the youths dominated Israeli domestic news for weeks.Natftali Fraenkel and Gilad Shaar, both 16, and Eyal Yifrach, 19, were abducted on June 12 while hitchhiking home from their religious schools in the West Bank. The abductions and search for the youths dominated Israeli domestic news for weeks.
After an 18-day search, their bodies were found buried under rubble in a field not far from where they were kidnapped. Israeli police say they were likely shot to death within minutes of being bundled into a stolen car. One of the teenagers managed to make a quick furtive call to an emergency line saying he had been kidnapped. The call was initially believed to have been a prank and report was not followed up until one of the teen’s parents called police to say their son was missing.After an 18-day search, their bodies were found buried under rubble in a field not far from where they were kidnapped. Israeli police say they were likely shot to death within minutes of being bundled into a stolen car. One of the teenagers managed to make a quick furtive call to an emergency line saying he had been kidnapped. The call was initially believed to have been a prank and report was not followed up until one of the teen’s parents called police to say their son was missing.
Soon after the kidnapping, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed “Hamas members” for the abductions, though he initially declined to provide details.Soon after the kidnapping, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed “Hamas members” for the abductions, though he initially declined to provide details.
After the kidnapping, Israeli forces conducted “Operation Brother’s Keeper.” Israeli police and soldiers threw up check points around Hebron, conducted thousands of house-to-house searches and arrested more than 350 Palestinians, including several top political leaders of Hamas.After the kidnapping, Israeli forces conducted “Operation Brother’s Keeper.” Israeli police and soldiers threw up check points around Hebron, conducted thousands of house-to-house searches and arrested more than 350 Palestinians, including several top political leaders of Hamas.
Palestinians, saying they were the subjects of “collective punishment,” reacted to the military sweep with demonstrations and violent clashes. Several Palestinians, including teens, were killed by Israeli forces in the clashes.Palestinians, saying they were the subjects of “collective punishment,” reacted to the military sweep with demonstrations and violent clashes. Several Palestinians, including teens, were killed by Israeli forces in the clashes.
While Israeli forces searched for the missing students, police say that an Israel eye-glass shop owner, and two young relatives, began driving around Arab neighbors in the Jerusalem area “hunting” for a Palestinian to murder in revenge.While Israeli forces searched for the missing students, police say that an Israel eye-glass shop owner, and two young relatives, began driving around Arab neighbors in the Jerusalem area “hunting” for a Palestinian to murder in revenge.
Eventually, they kidnapped Mohammad Abu Khieder, who was 17 but looked younger. He was on his way to dawn prayers at the mosque. The Palestinian youth was beaten by the suspects and burned alive in the Jerusalem forest. Eventually, they kidnapped Mohammad Abu Khieder, who was 17. He was on his way to dawn prayers at the mosque. The Palestinian youth was beaten by the suspects and burned alive in the Jerusalem forest.
After the bodies of the slain Israeli teenagers were found, a senior leader of the Hamas movement, Saleh Arouri, speaking at a conference in Turkey, said the Hamas military wing was behind the “heroic event.”After the bodies of the slain Israeli teenagers were found, a senior leader of the Hamas movement, Saleh Arouri, speaking at a conference in Turkey, said the Hamas military wing was behind the “heroic event.”
“It was an operation by your brothers from the al-Qassam Brigades,” Arouri said, adding that Hamas hoped to use the Israeli teens in a trade for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.“It was an operation by your brothers from the al-Qassam Brigades,” Arouri said, adding that Hamas hoped to use the Israeli teens in a trade for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Another Hamas member, Hussam Kawasmeh, Marwan’s uncle, was charged by the Israelis in September with organizing and funding the kidnapping, and later hiding the two suspects in a mosque.Another Hamas member, Hussam Kawasmeh, Marwan’s uncle, was charged by the Israelis in September with organizing and funding the kidnapping, and later hiding the two suspects in a mosque.
On Tuesday after news broke that the two Hamas suspects were dead, Israeli media reported the “account has been closed.”On Tuesday after news broke that the two Hamas suspects were dead, Israeli media reported the “account has been closed.”
Netanyahu said, “I spoke with the teens’ parents a short while ago and told them that nothing will ease their pain and bring back their boys, but there is also the account of justice we performed, the action that we promised.”Netanyahu said, “I spoke with the teens’ parents a short while ago and told them that nothing will ease their pain and bring back their boys, but there is also the account of justice we performed, the action that we promised.”
Chief of Staff of the army, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz said that “Operation Brother’s Keeper, which began on June 13, 2014, and has continued with determination this entire time, has come to an end.”Chief of Staff of the army, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz said that “Operation Brother’s Keeper, which began on June 13, 2014, and has continued with determination this entire time, has come to an end.”
Shmuel Cohen, the grandfather of Gil-Ad Shaer, one of the slain Israeli teens, told Israeli media Tuesday morning “this has a lot of meaning. The world needs to know that Jewish blood is not abandoned and whoever harms a Jew has his blood on his hands.”Shmuel Cohen, the grandfather of Gil-Ad Shaer, one of the slain Israeli teens, told Israeli media Tuesday morning “this has a lot of meaning. The world needs to know that Jewish blood is not abandoned and whoever harms a Jew has his blood on his hands.”
In reaction to the mass arrests and re-arrests of it members in the West Bank, Hamas began to fire rockets at Israel in early July. Israel warned Hamas that it would retaliate and soon began the Operation Protective Edge, the intensive aerial and artillery bombardment and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, including 500 children, according to UNICEF.In reaction to the mass arrests and re-arrests of it members in the West Bank, Hamas began to fire rockets at Israel in early July. Israel warned Hamas that it would retaliate and soon began the Operation Protective Edge, the intensive aerial and artillery bombardment and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, including 500 children, according to UNICEF.
Hazem Balousha in Gaza City contributed to this report.Hazem Balousha in Gaza City contributed to this report.