TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Members of Hamas were among 80 Palestinians arrested in the West Bank by the Israeli Army over the weekend as part of efforts to locate three teenagers, believed abducted in the territory while hitchhiking home, the Associated Press reported.
The news agency quoted spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner as saying militants "will not feel safe" until the teens return home.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds the Palestinian Authority responsible for the Thursday night disappearance of the teens. Netanyahu said they were "kidnapped by a terror group."
The Palestinians have rejected blame, saying the teens went missing in territory under full Israeli control.
Among the missing is a 16-year-old American.
The military also said its aircraft struck several targets in Gaza overnight in retaliation for Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel. No casualties were immediately reported.
REUTERS | AP | NATALIA SANTI
