(VOVworld) – The US has urged Israel and Palestine to continue their security cooperation after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a tough response against the Hamas movement currently controlling the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu’s announcement came after the bodies of 3 missing Israeli teenagers were found.

Israeli soldiers take part in an operation to locate three Israeli teens. (Photo: Reuters)

On Tuesday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest reiterated a condemnation by President Barack Obama of the killings and a call for restraint to avoid worsening the situation. A White House press release praised Israel-Palestine cooperation in searching for the 3 kidnapped teens and urged them to work together through this tough period. But Hamas strongly opposes cooperation, which, it says, will be detrimental to agreements between Palestinian sectarians.