IDF is Gathering Information on Terrorist Kidnapping

IDF and ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) officials continue to question suspects taken into custody in an effort to learn the whereabouts of the kidnapped youths, who have been missing since Thursday night the eve of 15 Sivan. According to combined reports from Israeli and PA (Palestinian Authority) media, at least 100 PA residents have been taken for questioning since Shabbos.

In a Sunday afternoon 17 Sivan Twitter message, the IDF spokesman reports that “a Hamas cell that planned to run over a soldier and abduct him back in February 2013 is the same terror organization that is responsible for the abduction of Eyal, Gilad and Naftali”.

Earlier in the day Channel 2 News reported that a “Senior IDF Central Command officer stated that we are no longer operating in a total fog or vacuum”, indicating security agencies are making progress in Operation Brothers Return.

Channel 2 News reported at 17:00 that over 100 Hamas terrorists are in custody, many members of the military wing and many with a rich past of terrorist activities against Israel. The PA media reports the IDF operation in the Hebron area is “intense” as soldiers are checking every home and every room, leaving no stone unturned. PA residents by and large remain home and the streets are vacant as the IDF has retaken control of the area in the ongoing search of the kidnapped youths.

Former Chief of Military Intelligence Dr. Uzi Dayan explains “The PA no longer has an excuse. In the past, when Hamas struck, Abu Mazen would explain ‘this is Hamas and we are not responsible for Hamas.’ Now that he has signed on with Hamas, he is responsible and has no way out.”

MK (Bayit Yehudi) Moti Yogev, a colonel in the IDF reserves, explained to Channel 2 that “The families are families with emunah in HKBH and they are using that emunah and tefilos at this time to remain strong and to remain optimistic.” Yogev explained the IDF, ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) and the Mossad are doing what they known how to do well and Am Yisrael must remain optimistic and continue being mispallel”.

Yogev added the government must do a ‘cheshbon nefesh’ and if the youths are not released soon, “the terrorists in the Gilad Shalit deal must rot in prison forever”.