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West Bank tense as operation to find kidnapped youngsters continues
Clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians took place at various locations in the West Bank as Israel continued to search for the three teenagers abducted last Thursday.
Eyal Yifrah, 19, Gilad Shaer and Naftali Frenkel, both 16, were kidnapped while hitchhiking in the Gush Etzion area of the West Bank. Israeli forces have flooded the West Bank since then, carrying out extensive searches and arrests, especially targeting activists of Hamas, which Israel says is responsible for the abductions.
Operations initially focused on Hebron and Nablus, but yesterday spread further afield. In Jenin, Palestinians hurled explosives at IDF personnel and live fire was exchanged. Meanwhile, around 300 Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces in Tulkarm. Clashes were also reported in Bethlehem and Bir Zeit, north of Ramallah. It was reported this morning that the Israeli army made a further 25 arrests during the night. Yesterday, Hamas official Salah Bardawil threatened that if the arrests continue, “We are capable of igniting a third Intifada and this is our irrevocable right.”
Speaking to the media at an IDF base yesterday evening, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasised that “security forces are working around the clock,” to find the youngsters. He said that due to their efforts, “We know today more than we did a few days ago,” although “we have a long way to go still.”
As part of the crackdown against Hamas, Israel has also targeted the organisation’s infrastructure and institutions. Yesterday, Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon announced that this would include banning the UK-based organisation Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW). The organisation claims to help children in need and encourage job creation. However, Ya’alon said that IRW is in fact “one of the sources of Hamas’s funding and a means for raising funds from various countries in the world.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday via social media, “My thoughts are with the families of the three kidnapped Israeli teenagers. Praying for their early and safe return home.”