This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-27855994
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Israel accuses Hamas of abducting missing teenagers | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas of kidnapping three Israeli teenagers. | |
| The students went missing on Thursday near an Israeli settlement in the West Bank on their way back from lessons. | |
| The Israeli army says it has arrested about 80 Palestinians in the search. | |
| The disappearance is being seen as the biggest strain on relations between the two sides since a Palestinian unity government was announced in April. | The disappearance is being seen as the biggest strain on relations between the two sides since a Palestinian unity government was announced in April. |
| "Those who carried out the kidnapping of our youngsters are Hamas people," Mr Netanyahu said. | |
| Mr Netanyahu pointed to the fact that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas recently announced a unity government backed by Hamas. | |
| Israel suspended crisis-hit peace talks with the Palestinians when the government was announced and insists it will not deal with a Palestinian government backed by Hamas. | |
| Analysis: Quentin Sommerville, BBC News, Jerusalem | Analysis: Quentin Sommerville, BBC News, Jerusalem |
| Israel is gripped by the fate of three teenagers, who were returning from lessons at a seminary when they disappeared. | Israel is gripped by the fate of three teenagers, who were returning from lessons at a seminary when they disappeared. |
| The suspicion is that they were kidnapped. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is certain they were taken by Hamas. The Islamist militant group dismissed the accusation. | The suspicion is that they were kidnapped. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is certain they were taken by Hamas. The Islamist militant group dismissed the accusation. |
| Hamas kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006 and held him for five years. As prime minister then, Mr Netanyahu authorised the freeing of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners to secure his release. | Hamas kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006 and held him for five years. As prime minister then, Mr Netanyahu authorised the freeing of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners to secure his release. |
| The fear here is that if the teenagers aren't found, the situation could escalate significantly. Israel says its forces are standing by for "any possible scenario". Palestinians say that would amount to collective punishment. | The fear here is that if the teenagers aren't found, the situation could escalate significantly. Israel says its forces are standing by for "any possible scenario". Palestinians say that would amount to collective punishment. |
| Israel says an "intensive operation" is under way to find the two 16-year-olds - Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar - and 19-year-old Eyal Yifrach. | Israel says an "intensive operation" is under way to find the two 16-year-olds - Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar - and 19-year-old Eyal Yifrach. |
| They were last seen in the area of Gush Etzion, a bloc of Jewish settlements located between Jerusalem and the predominantly Palestinian city of Hebron. | They were last seen in the area of Gush Etzion, a bloc of Jewish settlements located between Jerusalem and the predominantly Palestinian city of Hebron. |
| Their fate has gripped Israel, with rolling coverage on the main TV channels. | Their fate has gripped Israel, with rolling coverage on the main TV channels. |
| Palestinian officials have said they are co-operating with the search. | Palestinian officials have said they are co-operating with the search. |
| Mr Netanyahu previously said he holds the Palestinian Authority responsible for the teenagers' wellbeing. | |
| In response, Palestinian officials pointed out that the three went missing in an area under full Israeli control. | In response, Palestinian officials pointed out that the three went missing in an area under full Israeli control. |
| In an earlier statement on the operation, the Israeli army pointed to the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and said the three may have been taken to be traded for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. | In an earlier statement on the operation, the Israeli army pointed to the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and said the three may have been taken to be traded for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. |
| Sgt Shalit was freed in 2011 after Israel and Hamas agreed a deal under which more than 1,000 Palestinians were released. | Sgt Shalit was freed in 2011 after Israel and Hamas agreed a deal under which more than 1,000 Palestinians were released. |
| Also on Sunday, the Israeli army said it had conducted aerial raids on the Gaza Strip overnight in retaliation for rockets fired from the Strip into Israel. | Also on Sunday, the Israeli army said it had conducted aerial raids on the Gaza Strip overnight in retaliation for rockets fired from the Strip into Israel. |
| A spokesman for Gaza's health ministry told the Associated Press news agency that a girl had been slightly hurt. The ministry also said a seven-year-old boy had died from injuries sustained in an Israeli raid earlier this week. | A spokesman for Gaza's health ministry told the Associated Press news agency that a girl had been slightly hurt. The ministry also said a seven-year-old boy had died from injuries sustained in an Israeli raid earlier this week. |