ANKARA
World leaders called for restraint Monday after the discovery of the bodies of three missing Israeli teenagers.
U.S. President Barack Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the murders and urged all sides not to take action that could destabilize the region.
“The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms this senseless act of terror against innocent youth,” Obama said.
Urging Israel and the Palestinian Authority to work together to bring the killers of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Fraenkel to justice, he added: “I also urge all parties to refrain from steps that could further destabilize the situation.”
The teenagers went missing on June 12 and their bodies were found near the Palestinian village of Halhul, northwest of Hebron, Monday.
A statement from the UN said: “There can be no justification for the deliberate killing of civilians.”
Referring to Ban, the statement added: “He calls on all parties to abide by their obligations under international law and to refrain from any actions that could further escalate this highly tense situation.” Attempts to stoke tensions in the region “must not be allowed to succeed” continued the statement.
Merkel’s office condemned the killings as a “despicable act for which there is no excuse.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed Hamas, part of the Palestinian unity government, for the kidnapping and murders. Hamas has denied the claim and said Israel has used the abduction to step up arrests and military action against Palestinians. Hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank have been detained and at least ten killed since the three teens were kidnapped as they hitchhiked home.
The Israeli Defense Force said Monday it had carried out air strikes in the Gaza Strip following a rocket attack against southern Israel.
