Bodies Of 3 Missing Israeli Teens Found In West Bank

The bodies of three Israeli teenagers who went missing in early June have been found in the West Bank, Israeli officials said Monday.

The three teenage boys reportedly went missing when they were kidnapped by suspected Hamas militants on June 12. Authorities found their bodies in the West Bank city of Hebron following weeks of raids in the area and the arrest of hundreds of Palestinians.

"Following extensive searches in order to retrieve the three abducted teens...three bodies were discovered in the area north-west to Hebron, near the community of Telem," Israeli Defense Forces said according to ABC News. "The bodies are currently going through forensic identification. The families of the abducted teens have been notified."

The victims are identified as Gilad Shaar, Eyal Yifrach and 16-year-old Naftali Fraenkel, who was also a U.S. citizen and whose family lives in New York. It was not immediately clear how they died.

With the kidnappings came the return of Israeli forces to Palestinian territory in the West Bank for the first time in 12 years, according to the Wall Street Journal. Over 240 Palestinians suspected of having ties to Hamas were arrested during IDF's operation titled "Brother's Keeper."

The Palestinian militant group has denied kidnapping the Israeli teenagers, but the group has expressed support for the abduction of Israelis as a way to battle the country's presence in the West Bank, the WSJ reported. Both Israeli and Palestinian officials believe the kidnappers most likely acted without orders from Hamas.

News of the murders broke during a press briefing at the White House. Officials said more information was needed before deciding a course of action.

"We obviously condemn in the strongest possible term, violence that takes the lives of innocent civilians," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said according to ABC News. "But I don't want to react any further without having a chance to look at the report."

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki called for cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian forces despite "the tragedy and the enormous pain on the ground as a result."