Israel has begun its retaliation against Hamas, who it claims is responsible for the deaths of three missing teenagers in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli security forces used explosives to demolish the homes near Hebron of the two main suspects missing since the three young men disappeared.

There have also been reports of airstrikes in Gaza overnight.

Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the kidnapping and said they would “pay” for the deaths.

“This atrocity is the direct result of the pact between the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Hamas terrorists, a pact that allowed Hamas to re-establish its presence in the West Bank. President Abbas must now immediately annul his pact with Hamas,” said Mark Regev, spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister.

The bodies of the three Israeli teenagers were found buried in a pit near the town of Halhul north of Hebron on Monday.

Five Palestinians were killed and another 400 arrested including many of Hamas’s top leaders during the search.

In Tel Aviv, a candlelight vigil was held for the teens by several hundred mourners.

Israeli-Palestinian relations are at their worst in over a decade following the breakdown of US brokered talks in April.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has also been weakened. He has been criticised by Hamas for condemning the kidnapping of the three teenagers and for deploying his forces to help Israel with the search.