Hamas rejects Israeli blame over teenagers' killings

Gaza, July 1 (IANS) Islamic militant group Hamas late Monday rejected Israel's allegation that it was behind the killings of three Israeli teenagers whose bodies were found in the West Bank Monday evening.

Hamas, instead, accused Israel of using the killing of three Israeli teenagers for more military escalation against the Palestinians.

"We reject all Israeli allegations and threats against us," Xinhua quoted Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri as saying. "No Palestinian group, Hamas or any other group, has taken responsibility for the action, and thus the Israeli version can't be trusted."

"Only the Israeli version of the incident has been published, which is attempting to escalate its military aggression against Hamas," the spokesperson added.

On Monday evening, the Israeli army found the bodies of three teenagers, who were missing since June 12 near the town of Halhul closed to the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

Israeli media said that initial probes showed that the three teenagers were killed right after they were abducted in June 12.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of being responsible for killing them.

When the three teenagers disappeared in June 12, Israel accused Hamas of kidnapping them, which led to a growing tension between Gaza militants and Israel in the coastal area.