Hamas says Tel Aviv’s allegation that Hamas abducted three Israeli teens is aimed at torpedoing the recent reconciliation deal between Hamas and Fatah.
The reaction comes as Israeli prime minister once again threatened Palestinians over the alleged disappearance of three Israelis in the occupied West bank. Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed the disappearances on Hamas.
Senior Hamas officials have categorically denied any involvement.
Israeli forces have arrested 80 Palestinians, including members of the resistance movement Hamas, as part of a search campaign for three teenage settlers who have gone missing in the occupied West Bank for a few days now.
Israeli forces have completely sealed off the city of al-Khalil (Hebron) and have raided many homes there.
The teenagers disappeared on Thursday near a settlement north of the city.
In April, Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas signed an agreement to end years of rivalry and form a unity government.
The new cabinet of the Palestinian unity government was sworn in on June 2. The cabinet led by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah has 17 ministers including five from the Hamas movement.
Hamdallah’s government is tasked with organizing parliamentary and presidential elections in the West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip by the end of the year.
The United Nations hailed the formation of the Palestinian unity government.
