The murder of a Palestinian teenager on Wednesday that seemed to parallel the murders of three Jewish teenagers has escalated tension between Israelis and Palestinians, stirring street protests and clashes.

The three Jewish teenagers, one of whom was also an American citizen, were abducted on June 12 while hitchhiking home from religious schools in the West Bank. Their whereabouts were unknown until their dead bodies were found on June 30 near the city of Hebron in the West Bank.

Israel suspects Hamas terrorists killed the boys. “Hamas is responsible, and Hamas will pay,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Although Hamas denied culpability, it nonetheless cheered the abduction of the teens, saying, “Blessed be the hands that captured them.”

As the funerals for the teenagers took place on July 1, hundreds of protesters took to the streets demanding retribution and chanting “Death to Arabs.” Some protesters tried to attack passersby before the police came to their aid. Over 40 demonstrators were arrested.

Then, on Wednesday morning, a Palestinian teenager was abducted in East Jerusalem while waiting outside his home for his friends. The charred remains of his body were found that same day in a forest in Jerusalem.

Hamas suspects Israelis killed the teenager. “We send our message to the Zionist entity and its leaders, which hold direct responsibility [for the murder,] that our people will not let this crime pass, nor all the killings and destruction by your settlers,” the terrorist group said. “You will pay the price for these crimes.” The Israeli government denied culpability. Netanyahu condemned the crime saying that “vigilantes have no place in our democracy.”

Following the murder, hundreds of Palestinians protested against Israelis, flinging stones, hurling firebombs and rolling burning tires at Israeli security officials. Walls were emblazoned with graffiti saying, “Death to Israel” and “Death to the Jews.” They torched three small shelters for a light-rail line. Traffic lights were smashed and trash containers were overturned on streets. Israeli authorities had to deploy tanks, artillery and busloads of military personnel, and they’re mobilizing forces around Gaza. Hamas militants responded with a barrage of rockets. As many as 30 rockets were fired at southern Israel in the 24 hours since the protests.

This response was a mere intensification of the rockets it’s been firing almost every day since around the time of the abduction of the three Israeli teenagers. Israel responded with an incursion into the West Bank that included house searches, raids and arrests. Hamas militants launched more rockets in response.

On Monday, Netanyahu phoned the father of the murdered Palestinian teenager to express his shock and to promise that the attackers would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Six Israelis have been arrested in what police say was probably a revenge attack for the abduction and killing of the three Jewish youths.

These clashes are bringing back to mind the fierce fighting between Israel and Hamas in November 2012. A relative of the murdered Palestinian remarked that the hatred has increased instantly. “I’ve never seen such racism, even in the first and second intifada,” he said. “We are entering a very dark time.” Both sides have exchanged warnings and threats, and talk among many is rife that this latest quandary may be the beginnings of the third intifada.

The Trumpet has written extensively on the Middle East peace process—why it has failed and continues to fail. We have articles and videos on the tried and tested way that guarantees peace, both among individuals and nations. Watch editor in chief Gerald Flurry’s Key of David web exclusive “Why the Middle East Can’t Have Peace Today” to learn more.