Israeli teens found dead in West Bank laid to rest

MODI'IN, West Bank, July 1 (UPI) -- Three teenagers found dead in the West Bank were eulogized at funeral ceremonies Tuesday as Israel began airstrikes against the militant Palestinian organization Hamas, which it contends was involved in the boys' deaths.

Gilad Shaar, Eyal Yifrach and Naftali Frenkel were found dead Monday near Hebron, West Bank, after they were abducted June 12. Police and army officers conducted a massive search.

Speaking at the ceremony in Modi'in, a town located both in Israel and the West Bank, Israeli President Shimon Peres told thousands of attending mourners, "We prayed for a miracle, unfortunately a tragedy occurred."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised their families for their strength while the search for the boys was conducted, noting "Today has spontaneously become a national day of mourning."

Separate ceremonies were conducted earlier for the victims at their homes. At Shaar's in Talmon, Finance Minister Yair Lapid said, "We aren't burying a settler. This isn't a loss for just one sector or another but for all of Israel. I understand the desire for revenge, but what we need now is love, togetherness."

At Yifrach's in Elad, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said the three boys "were murdered just because they were Jewish."

At Frenkel's, near Nof Ayalon, his mother expressed gratitude to the police and army, saying, "You promised you would find them and you did. That is a great kindness."