Abduction and murder of Israeli teenagers

The abduction and murder of three Israeli teenagers in an Israeli-controlled area of the West Bank has led to a dramatic increase in tension in the region. Israel claims that Hamas was responsible for the killings, and Israeli forces have entered Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank to arrest 330 suspects. Hamas, which recently ended its political exile by agreeing to support the new Palestinian technocratic government, has not accepted responsibility. Prior to the discovery of the bodies on 30 June, the Palestinian Authority had agreed to cooperate with the Israeli search effort, but the PA has also criticised the perceived excesses of the Israeli operation, whilst many ordinary Palestinians have protested against the Israeli incursions. Some protests have turned violent, and five Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces; another Palestinian boy has been killed in a suspected “revenge” attack by Israeli extremists.