Expect swift and merciless retaliation from Israel. Note: One of the teens killed was an American citizen.

(ABC News) – The bodies of three Israeli teenagers who were kidnapped in the West Bank earlier this month have been found north of the city of Hebron, a source confirmed to ABC News today.

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group accused by Israel of taking the boys, has denied kidnapping the teens, though senior Israeli and Palestinian officials agree that the abductors were likely tied to — or part of — Hamas but operating without orders from the organization’s leadership.

Israeli forces have conducted raids in the West Bank in the search for the teens and their kidnappers since they were abducted on June 12. Since the search started, more than 240 Palestinians have been arrested in the operation dubbed “Brother’s Keeper,” the army said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or his office is expected to make a statement soon about the discovery of the bodies, a source said.

Update: Sounds like Palestinians attacked Israeli troops after the bodies were found in their town.

Update: And you know Netanyahu means it (unlike Obama and his vanishing red lines).

Via Business Insider:

The Israeli security cabinet is currently meeting to weigh possible responses to the teens’ murders. Netanyahu ordered an extensive air campaign in the Gaza Strip in late 2012 in response to rocket attacks originating in the Hamas-controlled coastal area. While the campaign resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Hamas operatives, including Hamas military chief Ahmed Jabari, the campaign ceased admit international pressure — and resulted in Israel lightening its control of goods and individuals entering the Strip.

So any large-scale action comes with potential risk. And for now, there’s still a chance that the kidnapping was the work of rogue Hamas cells, rather than a conspiracy ordered by the organization’s top leadership. […]

On his Facebook page, Netanyahu was clear in assigning responsibility. He wrote that the three were “murdered in cold blood by human animals,” and promised that “Hamas is responsible, and Hamas will pay.”