DHAKA: The al-Qaida affiliated Sinai-based Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, which reportedly recently pledged allegiance to The Islamic State, formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), has claimed responsibility for the murder of the three yeshiva students in Judea.

The Egyptian-based group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and murder of the three boys on its website, stating that ‘the kidnapping and killing was a victory for the Islamic Caliphate’.

The statement threatened future operations against targets of the Israeli ‘occupation’.

The group accused Hamas of being a partisan movement that sold its faith for its political benefit and joined with Shias, referring to aid it has received from Iran.

The claim to have killed the boys could not be independently verified and may turn out to be false.

The government says that Hamas is behind the murders, reports The Jerusalem Post.

BDST: 1640 HRS, JULY 03, 2014