A search for three Jewish teens kidnapped in the West Bank ended Monday evening with the discovery of three bodies in a shallow grave and a vow of retribution from the Israeli government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "all signs" indicate the remains belong to Israeli-born American citizen Naftali Fraenkel, 16, Eyal Yifrach, 16, and Gilad Shaar, 19 — who vanished on June 12. "They were kidnapped and murdered in cold blood by human animals," Netanyahu said at the start of a security cabinet meeting called to address the situation. "Hamas is responsible and Hamas will pay."
Their families of the abducted yeshiva students were notified while forensic teams worked to confirm the identifications. A volunteer on the search team that found the bodies told Israeli army radio that while they were combing a semi-mountainous area northwest of Hebron they spotted something suspicious and cleared away bushes and rock to uncover the remains in a shallow grave.
IN-DEPTH
- Hamas Operatives Hunted in Kidnapping of Teens
- Israel Kills Teen During Hunt for Abducted Trio
- Family of Kidnapped U.S. Teens Shares Its Anguish
