Hamas Head Praises Kidnappers of Three Israeli Teens; Denies Hamas Involvement

The head of Hamas, Khalid Meshaal, told Al-Jazeera interviewers on Monday that he “blesses the hands of those who kidnapped” the three Israeli teens almost two weeks ago. Meshaal tiptoed around the question of his group’s responsibility saying only that “if there will be a confirmation that a Palestinian group is behind the kidnapping, we should applaud and take off our hats to them.” He denied having any information on the abductees’ whereabouts.