IDF said to zero in on terrorist killers their hideout.

The Feaces of EVIL

IDF said to zero in on terrorist killers their hideout. (TOI).

Israeli forces are drawing closer to the two suspected killers of three Israeli teens, and believe they are armed and ready for a standoff once they are found, Channel 10 reported Wednesday.

The IDF on Wednesday morning pressed on with their search for Marwan Kawasme, 29, and Amar Abu Aysha, 32, whom officials suspect kidnapped and killed Eyal Yifrach, Naftali Fraenkel, and Gil-ad Shaar in June 12. The military arrested 39 more West Bank Palestinians overnight, Ma’an news agency reported.

The security cabinet convened Tuesday evening to discuss the nature of Israel’s response to the murders, but there were no immediate reports of the conclusion of the meeting. A discussion held earlier in the week yielded no definitive response and reports said ministers were at odds.

The Israeli teenagers’ bodies were found near Hebron earlier this week. Palestinian security forces are aiding the IDF in its hunt for the perpetrators.

The military has cordoned off a small area near the West Bank town of Halhul where Kawasme and Abu Aysha are believed to be holed up, the Channel 10 report said. Abu Aysha and Kawasme have operated in the Hebron area for several years, and are believed to be intimately familiar with the caves and tunnels dotting the rugged terrain surrounding Halhul.

They likely drew lessons from previous kidnappings of Israeli military personnel and civilians carried out by terrorist organizations. Security officials believe that the two planned in advance to remain in hiding for a long period of time, and stockpiled food in order to support themselves without outside assistance during a manhunt.

The IDF is said to be prepared for a the possibility that they will only capture Kawasme and Abu Aysha after they are killed in a shootout with soldiers.