The experts working to piece together the events of the eve of 15 Sivan 5774 feel that at least one of the three kidnapped youths was shot dead by the Hamas terrorists in the vehicle not long after being abducted. Additional information is being released as the investigation and manhunt in the case of the kidnapping murders of Gilad Shaar, Naftali Frenkel and Eyal Yifrach continue. The terrorists, Marwan Kawasmeh and Imad Abu-Eisha are still at large.

Police are releasing information obtained by the forensic testing conducted on the bodies prior to kvura.

Investigators believe it was Gilad Shaar who was shot, for it was he who was struck in his head by one of the terrorists in the vehicle after it was realized his phone was open to the police ‘100’ dispatcher. He made the 2 minute 9 second call for help.

Authorities also report the terrorists continued driving after shooting Shaar, but it is unknown if the others had been shot at that point or not. It is theorized the terrorists feared the IDF was on their trail and there was no way to keep the three, hence the decision to kill them. It remains unknown if the other boys were alive when the terrorists switched vehicles.

Police are working to find the terrorists and the people who assisted them arrange the vehicles and more. Inside the burned vehicle they found a scorched cellular telephone and spent shells from the gunfire. The joint IDF, ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet), Israel Police team has yet to reach a final determination regarding the driver of the vehicle that picked the boys up. The driver may have been disguised as a chareidi. This would have facilitated the boys’ decision to enter the vehicle at such a late hour.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)