Israeli Army Says 2 Suspects Killed, Linked to Teen Abductions

The Israeli military says it has killed two Palestinians suspected in the abduction and killing of three Israeli teens in June.

Army spokesman Peter Lerner said Tuesday that troops killed Amer Abu Aisheh and Marwan Qawasmeh in an exchange of gunfire at a house in the West Bank city of Hebron.

He said the military confirmed the killing of one suspect and believed the other was dead, but did not have visual confirmation.

The June 12 abduction set off a massive manhunt that included the arrests of hundreds of Hamas members. The militant group initially denied involvement, but later acknowledged responsibility for abducting the teens.

Israeli extremists later kidnapped and killed a Palestinian youth in an apparent revenge attack.

The incidents helped spark a 50-day war between Israel and Hamas that killed more than 2,100 Palestinians and 72 Israelis.

leave a reply: