West Bank kidnappings

Three teenage boys, including two Israelis and a duel American-Israeli citizen, were kidnapped on June 12 near Gush Etzion, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. The missing boys were found dead on June 30 near where they had been abducted.

Salafist group Dawlat al-Islam released a statement saying the kidnappings were revenge for Israel’s killing three of their members, but Israel believed that Hamas was responsible. Hamas has repeatedly denied any involvement.

Israeli forces conducted a door-to-door search for the teens in the West Bank, which resulted in the arrests of more than 400 Palestinians and the deaths of five. 

The kidnapping and killing of a Palestinian teenager in East Jerusalem on July 1 was being investigated as a possible revenge killing. On July 6, Israeli authorities arrested and charged six Israeli extremists for the crime, three of whom confessed to the murder.

On July 3, in response to a rocket barrage from Gaza which hit the city of Sderot, with no injuries reported, Israel launched air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza, injuring 10. In days following, Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli police. Tensions remain high.