Three Israeli teenagers who went missing while hitchhiking through the West Bank were found dead under a pile of rocks.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to exact a heavy price for the deaths, declaring, “Hamas is responsible, and Hamas will pay.”

Israeli security forces swarmed around the empty lot north of the Palestinian town Halhul, just north of Hebron. 

19-year old Eyal Yifrah, 19, and 16-year olds Gilad Shaar and Naftali Fraenkel were last seen hitchhiking home from religious school earlier this month.  Police had reportedly admitted that one of the boys called them to say they’ve been kidnapped, but cops ignored it as a crank call.  The search didn’t begin for several hours after they went missing.

From the beginning, Netanyahu blamed Hamas for allegedly abducting the boys.  Israeli security forces arrested more than 400 Palestinians, and five were killed in scuffles.  Hamas and the Palestinian unity government denied ordering the kidnapping, and some criticized Netanyahu for quickly politicizing the crime instead of finding the boys.

Israel’s emergency cabinet met soon after the discovery.  Officials are weighing possible strikes against Hamas, and hardliners are pushing for full occupation of the West Bank.