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ISRAEL HAS VOWED to make Hamas pay for the murder of three kidnapped Israeli teenagers, but the Islamist movement warned any reprisal attacks would open “the gates of hell”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday evening announced the discovery of the three bodies in a field in the southern West Bank.
“This evening, we found three bodies and all the signs indicate that they are the bodies of our three kidnapped youngsters,” Netanyahu told ministers at the start of an emergency session of his security cabinet.
“They were kidnapped and murdered in cold blood by human animals,” he said.
“Hamas is responsible and Hamas will pay.”
Hamas, which had denied any involvement in the abduction of the teenage boys, issued a warning in return to the Israelis.
“If the occupiers carry out an escalation or a war, they will open the gates of hell on themselves,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told AFP.
The discovery of the boys’ bodies — one 19-year-old and two aged 16 — came 17 days after they disappeared, triggering a huge manhunt during which five Palestinians were killed and more than 400 arrested.
Israeli public radio said on Tuesday that the youths were apparently shot dead shortly after they were snatched.
Two Hebron Hamas men named by Israel as prime suspects — Marwan Qawasmeh and Amer Abu Eishe — remain at large but Palestinian witnesses said troops blew up their homes early on Tuesday.
The Israeli roundup, mainly of people linked to Hamas, brought a wave of rocket attacks against southern Israel by militants in the Gaza Strip, answered in turn by Israeli air strikes.
The latest round began around 1:00 am on Tuesday (2200 GMT on Monday) with a rocket slamming into open ground in the Negev desert region.
Two more followed overnight, the army said, but nobody was hurt.
Shortly afterwards the Palestinian interior ministry reported around 30 Israeli air strikes on deserted militant training sites across Gaza but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
The Israeli military said in a statement that aircraft hit 34 targets.
Palestinian teen shot dead
In the northern West Bank, Israeli troops shot dead a young Palestinian early on Tuesday during a raid into the Jenin refugee camp, Palestinian security and medical officials said.
They named the dead youth as Yusuf Abu Zagher, 18.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said that he was a Hamas operative about to hurl an explosive device at troops sent to arrest him.
“They opened fire and confirmed a hit,” she said.
She did not say if the arrest raid was related to the broader crackdown on Hamas in the West Bank.
The Israeli youngsters’ bodies were found near the West Bank town of Halhul, some 10 minutes drive from the roadside where they were last seen hitchhiking.
One of the civilian volunteers involved in the search told army radio the bodies had been found under a pile of branches and stones in a remote area.
“Today, during a sweep with the army, one of the guys spotted something unusual, they started to move branches and stones and found the bodies,” said volunteer Benny Truper.”It was a very isolated area, more or less at the end of the world.”
US President Barack Obama condemned the killings and warned against actions that could further “destabilise” the situation, amid the threats of retaliation against Hamas.
“The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms this senseless act of terror against innocent youth,” Obama said in a written statement.
British Prime Minister David Cameron slammed an “inexcusable act of terror” and pledged to stand with Israel as it seeks justice.
French President Francois Hollande denounced the “cowardly murder” of the teens which German Chancellor Angela Merkel called “a detestable act for which there is no excuse”.
’An abominable crime’
Hamas has dismissed the Israeli allegations as “stupid” with Abu Zuhri accusing Israel of fabricating the kidnapping as an excuse to crack down on the movement.
“The occupation is trying to use this story to justify its extensive war against our people, against resistance and against Hamas,” he charged.
Abbas has come under massive Israeli pressure to renounce a reconciliation agreement with Hamas under which a merged administration for the West Bank and Gaza was formed in early June for the first time in seven years.
Pope Francis, who last month visited Israel and the West Bank, called the killing “an abominable crime”.
“This is a serious obstacle on the path to peace for which we must continue to pray and continue to be involved,” a Vatican statement quoted him as saying.
She is a hero
I seriously have so much admiration and respect for this lady.
This story has recieved a mere 2500+ views compared to the 28,000+ attributed to the story about the shooting in the U.S!!
Makes you wonder what the people of our country think about its people!!
It’s about time this was sorted out, it’s a pity somebody had to die because of it.
Cost of repairing Priory Hall €10million approx / Government pledge to overseas aid €60 million.
Don’t think money was the issue with the state, to be fair! It was a private development that crossed paths with a public body in terms of planning. But the state can’t just write a cheque that easily and its a legal nightmare for everyone! Thankfully the saga appears to have an end in sight!
And what is the cost of going after the IRA builder who built it? Surely he should have to pay most of the 10 million euros?
the ‘ira’ builder…………get a life you troll.
He’s bankrupt. I say chuck him in jail till he pays. ..oh no wait its ireland after all
He has claimed British citizenship to qualify for bankruptcy in the UK. Bet the Sinn Fein lads didn’t like that move by this former hunger striker. You have been v silent on this one Gerry
IRA/SF builder.
I live in Roscrea Co. Tipperary and Tom McFeely built a number if houses at the end of my road which have been abandoned since he became bankrupt and are now vandalised and people are dumping on the sight. The first few to leave began dumping and by that the place became inhospitable for the rest, they all seemed to be renting and towards the end were playing rent to an English company and I think there is only a couple of windows left all have been broken. What a waste of perfectly good houses. They’ve ruined our whole estate which I used to love living in now I am disgusted every day as I drive past those houses!!
We have a harrowing history of forced evictions in Ireland. I can’t believe that we have allowed ourselves -through Government (past and present), our banks and our property developers, but also through our own lack of foresight; to see ourselves as a people in a similar position again.
The Easter Rising leaders must be turning in their graves..
Is this what we have achieved with our unfettered destinies?
This story has nothing to do with forced evictions. Agenda much?
I really would hope that people could have a bit of compassion and understanding for these innocent victims for the lack of proper regulation and standards in the Construction industry. I agree that most people are very supportive and genuinely want this to end. My Child and 88 of her Neighbours have been to Hell and back since 2007 when these apartments first opened. The “Banks” had these death traps inspected on at least 89 separate occasions and no major faults were reported. Coleport The Construction company had a CV with a massive list of failed developments yet they were left with a license to continue to construct death traps. These people were failed by our Government, the Department for the Environment, the Developers and the Banks . It really all came down to GREED & PROFITEERING. If there is any justice most of these Bastards will roast in hell. Every single one of them should be named and shamed, they all have blood on their hands.
Sad state of affairs when it takes a man to take his own life before the government gets its finger out to sort the issue.
Stephanie Meehan should be paid to attend the meeting with the Minister and all the Priory Hall parties. She should have the power to say who said what at these meetings. She is such a capable lady and could cut through the delaying tactics bullshit of all these “experts” These guys need the constant reminder that the crazy delays from all sides have ruined and cost lives.
Brave lady.
I hope KBC choke on the money
That poor woman has been through a lot I hope it is all sorted out soon for that poor woman & the rest of priory hall residents
Not only should it all have been sorted…they ‘Priory Hall Homeowners’ should now also be compensated for the distress it has caused, small comport I know.. thoughts are with you still Stephanie.
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