State Department Holds Hamas Responsible for Israeli Teens’ Deaths
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iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The State Department said Tuesday that there is strong evidence the militant group Hamas is either directly or partially responsible for the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens whose bodies were found Monday in the West Bank city of Hebron.
Spokesperson Marie Harf said that the Obama administration was familiar with the intelligence gathered by the Israelis since one of the victims, Naftali Frenkel, had dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship. His family is from Brooklyn, New York.
Although advising restraint, Harf did not comment on the Israeli Air Force strikes against 34 Hamas targets in Gaza, ostensibly for the group firing missiles into Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is weighing his options for further retaliation. Some have called for the full weight of the military to come down on Hamas, which reportedly cheered the news of the teens’ deaths.
Meanwhile, Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach were eulogized Tuesday at a funeral attended by thousands.
The three, all under 20, were buried side by side.
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