Israel on Tuesday launched airstrikes against militants in Hamas-controlled Gaza following the discovery of the bodies of three Israeli teenagers who were abducted over two weeks ago.
Early Tuesday, the Israeli military said it struck 34 targets across the Hamas-controlled territory.
The military said the airstrikes were a response to a barrage of rockets fired into Israel since late Sunday.
But the airstrikes come as the bodies of Eyal Yifrah, 19, Gilad Shaar, 16, and Naftali Fraenkel, 16, were found Monday after 18 days of intense searching.The trio were abducted on June 12 while hitchhiking home from the Jewish seminaries where they were studying near the West Bank city of Hebron.
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon issued a statement Tuesday vowing to find those behind the killings. "We see Hamas responsible for the kidnappings and murders. We will continue to pursue the murderers of the teens and will not rest until we lay our hands on them," he said.
On Monday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Hamas is responsible, and Hamas will pay."
Hamas has denied responsibility and warned Israel against starting a broad offensive.
The Israeli teens will be buried later Tuesday in a joint funeral to be attended by Netanyahu and Shimon Peres, Israel's president.
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