Israel arrests hundreds as search for teens continues

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JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli soldiers clashed with Palestinians during an arrest raid early Thursday in the
most violent confrontation so far in the weeklong search for three missing Israeli teens believed to
have been abducted in the West Bank.
Israel has blamed the Islamic militant group Hamas for the apparent abductions, without providing
evidence. Israel has since launched a widespread crackdown on the militant Islamic group, arresting
scores of members while conducting a feverish manhunt for the missing youths.
Hamas has praised the abduction of the teenagers, but has not claimed responsibility for it.
The three — Eyal Yifrah, 19, Gilad Shaar, 16, and Naftali Fraenkel, a 16-year-old with dual
Israeli-American citizenship — disappeared late Thursday while hitchhiking home from Jewish seminaries
in the West Bank.
The military said about 300 Palestinians took to the streets when the soldiers entered Jenin at about 2
a.m. Some opened fire at the troops, others threw explosive devices or rocks at the soldiers. It said
soldiers retaliated with live fire.
The military said 30 Palestinians were arrested in the overnight raid.
Nadir Irshaid, director of the Jenin hospital, said seven people are being treated for light injuries
that he said were caused by rubber bullets and beatings.
According to several Jenin residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing for their safety,
three Palestinians were arrested over the Jenin violence, including two members of the Islamic Jihad
militant group.
Since the operation to locate the teens began a week ago, about 280 Palestinians have been arrested, the
military said, including 200 members of Hamas.
The military also said that troops have searched about 100 locations and raided institutions it said are
used by Hamas.
Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a military spokesman, said Hamas is “paying a heavy price for the abduction.”
Israel and the West consider Hamas a terrorist group due to its long history of attacks aimed at
civilians. Hamas has abducted Israelis before.
There has been no sign of life from the missing teens or any ransom or other demands from their purported
kidnappers.
U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro met with the Fraenkel family on Thursday and expressed Washington’s “strong
support” for Israeli efforts to find the teenagers. The U.S. has “a special responsibility in the case
of an American citizen,” Shapiro said.
Prayer vigils and round-the-clock media coverage have followed the teens’ disappearance.

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