Hamas slams EU's criticism over missing Israeli teenagers

Gaza, June 30 (IANS) Hamas slammed the European Union (EU) for criticising them for the abduction of three Israeli teenagers from the West Bank, media reported Monday.

"The EU's criticism of Hamas is just a courtesy and hypocrisy to the occupation of Israel," Xinhua quoted a Hamas spokesman as saying Sunday.

"The EU should also criticise Israel for kidnapping more than 5,000 Palestinians," the spokesman said.

"Instead of just crying for the disappearance of the three Israeli teenagers, the EU should exert every possible effort to end the abduction of Palestinians in Israel," the spokesman added.

The EU has called for the immediate release of the three teenagers and urged Israel to carry out proper measures to locate them.

On June 12, three Israeli teenagers were abducted from the southern West Bank town of Hebron.

Israel accused Hamas of perpetrating the abduction, without offering proof.

Hamas has denied the accusation.

To find the three teenagers, the Israeli army launched a large-scale operation.