Israeli forces have demolished the homes of two Palestinians accused of abducting and killing three Israeli teenagers in June.
Hussam Qawasmeh and Amar Abu Eisha's houses in the West Bank were blown up before dawn on Monday. Police say there were 250 policemen and dozens of Israeli soldiers at the scene.
The home of a third suspect, Marwan Qawasmeh, was sealed off, the military said. Last month, houses in the West Bank linked to Marwan Qawasmeh and Amer Abu Eisheh were also blown up.
Israel said the demolitions were in accordance with procedures used to deal with militants suspected of major crimes.
All three are suspected of murdering Eyal Yifrach (19) Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel (both 16) who went missing on June 12th.
Yifrach, Shaar and Frenkel went missing on June 12th
Israel launched a major operation in the West Bank in order to locate the teenagers - one of whom, Naftali, had American citizenship. Their bodies were discovered by soldiers beneath a pile of rocks on June 30th.
Israel has held Hamas responsible, but the militant political group has denied any involvement. Hussam Kawasma has been in Israeli custody since July. The other two suspects remain at large.
The deaths of the Israeli teens and the subsequent murder of Palestinian Mohammed Abu Khadair (16) heightened tensions in the lead-up to the current conflict in Gaza.
Negotiations continue
Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians over the month-long war continued on Monday as the end of a five-day truce nears.
Both sides have until 10pm (Irish time) to conclude a deal before the ceasefire was due to expire.
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in the Egypt-mediated talks appeared to be hardening their positions, with the Gaza blockade remaining the key stumbling block.
Norwegian foreign minister Boerge Brende said Norway and Egypt were planning to co-host a conference in Cairo to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza once there was an agreement in the ceasefire talks.
The Gaza conflict has killed more than 1,900 Palestinians - the majority of them civilians, according to Palestinian and United Nations officials.
Israel said it lost 64 soldiers in combat. Three Israeli civilians have been killed.
Meanwhile, the UN has helped three couples wed in Gaza on Sunday as protests broke out in Israel at the wedding of a Muslim man and a Jewish-born woman who converted to Islam.
