THE kidnap and murder of three Israeli teenagers is a tragedy for their families, and also a devastating blow to any hope for peace in that troubled region.

It is not enough that Hamas have disclaimed responsibility. This cold-blooded murder deserves unequivocal condemnation.

However, Israel’s response has been, as always, grossly disproportionate and punitive.

More than 500 people, with no apparent connection to the crime, have been arrested; seven Palestinians, including four teenagers, have been shot dead; Palestinian homes have been demolished and air strikes have been launched against Gaza.

That is no way to conduct a murder investigation.

When a Palestinian boy was murdered, apparently in a revenge attack, did trigger-happy Israeli troops rampage through the Jewish areas of Jerusalem, knocking down houses and arresting hundreds of people at random? No, they did not.

Binyamin Netanyahu is wrong to declare, without evidence, that Hamas are to blame.

Hamas initially applauded the kidnapping (on the basis that the boys could be exchanged for some of the 5,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails) but has neither condoned the murder, nor claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

It is very unlikely that Hamas leaders would have authorised this crime. They may be ruthless, but they are not stupid, and will be well aware that this atrocity is a gift to this Israeli government, which has used it as a pretext to attack Hamas, halt all peace negotiations with the Palestinians, and undermine the fragile Fatah/ Hamas unity government.

Pete Winstanley, Durham.