Israel Teens' Murderers Killed Resisting Arrest

JERUSALEM, Israel -- The two Arab men who kidnapped and murdered three Israeli teens last June have been killed resisting arrest, the IDF Spokesman's Office confirmed Tuesday morning.
 
A joint overnight operation carried out by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the Israel Defense Forces in the P.A.-controlled city of Hebron succeeded in locating Marwan Kawasme, 24, and Amar Abu Eisha, 33.
 
Kawasme and Eisha opened fired at Israeli forces and were killed by return fire.
 
"We were determined in bringing the ruthless murderers of Gil-Ad, Eyal and Naftali to justice. The efforts have been continuous and extensive. Today's successful mission brings the long-term search to an end and the perpetrators of the crime no long pose a threat to Israeli civilians," IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said in the statement.
 
The Spokesman's Office provided brief histories of both terrorists.
 
Kawasma had been arrested for various terror-related activities with Hamas. He spent 10 months in custody and after his release in August 2004, was arrested four more times.
 
In 2010, he confessed to being recruited by Hamas operatives in Hebron. In 2009, he took part in military training carried out in caves near Hebron. He assisted with recruiting local Arabs to join Hamas and with getting materials for explosive devices.
 
Aysha was arrested for the first time in November 2005 and held in administrative detention until June 2006. He was detained again for a shorter period in April 2007. His brother was killed in November 2005 when he attempted to throw an explosive device at IDF soldiers. His father was also arrested several times for terror-related activities.
 
Netanyahu Praises the Operation
 
At the start of Wednesday's cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reminded ministers of his promise when soldiers uncovered the boys' bodies in a shallow grave near Hebron nearly three weeks into the operation.
 
"When we found the bodies of Naftali, Gilad and Eyal, I said that whoever perpetrated the kidnapping and murder of our boys would bear the consequences and added that we would not rest until we had reached the last of them wherever they were hiding. I also said that this was our first mission and that it would be carried out. This morning it was carried out," Netanyahu said.
 
The prime minister thanked the Shin Bet, the Israel Police Anti-Terror Unit and the IDF on behalf of the people of Israel and said he'd spoken with the boys' families earlier.
 
"With the advent of the New Year, nothing can assuage their pain and nothing can bring back their wonderful, dear boys. But I told them that justice has been done and that we had carried out the mission that we promised to them and all of Israel."
 
Palestinian Arabs, meanwhile, celebrated the June abduction with a three-finger salute indicating Hamas got three times as many Israelis than during the June 2005 kidnapping of former IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
 
Hamas imprisoned Shalit in the Gaza Strip for five years before being turned over to Israel in a lopsided prisoner swap for more than 1,000 Arab convicts serving time for terror-related offenses.
 
Israel lost 64 soldiers in Operation Protective Edge.