These are the kidnappers of the three boys: two Hamas terrorists who are missing

June 26, 2014   

The General Security Service authorized the publication this evening (Thursday) that the terrorists behind the kidnapping of the three teenagers Gil-Ad Shaar, Naftali Frankel, and Eyal Yifrach are two central Hamas operatives from Hebron: Omar Abu Al-Aisha, 33, and Marwan Qawasmeh, 29. The two, who operated within the framework of the Hamas organization in the Hebron area, disappeared on the night of the kidnapping, and since then, security forces have been conducting an unprecedented manhunt as part of Operation "Brothers' Return" to capture them and locate the whereabouts of the kidnapped boys. The IDF Shin Bet and the Yamim arrested a number of suspects who are being questioned on suspicion of involvement in the kidnapping. 14 days have passed since the night the boys disappeared, and so far no official statement has been issued by Hamas claiming responsibility for the kidnapping. The two suspects, who were previously imprisoned in Israel, are missing from their homes in the Hares neighborhood of Hebron. A senior Palestinian official said at the time that their names had been transferred to Israel and they were declared wanted.  Qawasmeh, married and expecting a child, works as a barber in Hebron and is the nephew of Abdullah al-Qawasmeh, who previously commanded the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades - Hamas's military wing - in Hebron. He was killed in a raid in June 2003, after being involved in numerous attacks, including suicide bombings on French Hill and Jaffa Street in Jerusalem, as well as at the Ram checkpoint in Hebron and Pisgat Ze'ev. Abu al-Aisha, married and a father of three, works as a blacksmith, and his brother was killed in November 2005 in clashes with IDF forces. In a special interview with a Walla News correspondent at their home in Hebron, Abu Aisha's father said that his son spent time with him on Thursday, and after the two prayed in the afternoon, they went out to a family celebration. The father also said that on that day, his son told his daughter-in-law that he would be away from home for a few days. The father, who was previously detained in an Israeli prison for his ties to Hamas, said that after they went to the family celebration together, his son left and did not specify where. According to the father, on the night between Friday and Saturday, Israeli special forces arrived at the house and broke down the door of the building. They interrogated the family members and asked about the whereabouts of Amar. The father said that his grandchildren, three in number, were terrified and his daughter-in-law was arrested and taken away by the Shin Bet. After a few hours in custody, she was released to her home. According to him, she was asked where her husband was and if he had contacted her recently, but she denied knowing anything about his whereabouts and told the investigators that she had not seen him since Thursday afternoon.