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Israel arrests ringleader of Terror cell that kidnapped, killed the three teens

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It was revealed yesterday evening that Israel had arrested Hussam Qawasme, believed to be the ringleader of the cell which kidnapped and murdered Eyal Yifrah, Gil-Ad Shaer and Naftali Frenkel on 12 June.

Mr Qawasme is a relative of Marwan Qawasme, one of the previously-named suspects. Hussam Qawasme was arrested in the Shaufat neighbourhood of Jerusalem on 11 July.

According to court documents seen by the New York Times, Mr Qawasme admitted to Israeli investigators that he received money from Hamas in Gaza, and general instructions on kidnappings. He used the money to buy guns used in the murders, and joined in the burying of the three teens’ bodies on land which he owned outside of Hebron.

Walla news reports that a Hamas faction made up Palestinians released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner swap was the main driver behind a host of kidnap attempts in the West Bank, including this one.

The two men suspected of the actual kidnap, Marwan Qawasme and Amer Abu Aisha, remain at large.

A security guard outside the Israeli West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim was stabbed yesterday by an unknown assailant who escaped in a getaway car. The guard remains in serious condition and suspects were arrested. Yesterday’s attack follows two similar attacks in Jerusalem yesterday: a man killed by a digger-driver and a shooting attack near Hebrew University.