ISRAELI troops arrested 65 Palestinians overnight, most of whom had been freed in a 2011 prisoner swap.

The arrests were praised by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said it sent an “important message” in the operation designed ostensibly to find three missing teenagers.

“Sixty-five suspects were detained overnight, including 51 Palestinians who were released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange in 2011,” an army statement said.

It referred to the release of 1,027 Palestinians in exchange for an Israeli soldier held by Hamas for more than five years.

Army radio said most of those re-arrested were members of the Islamist movement, which Israel has blamed for the kidnapping of the youths last week in the southern West Bank.

Mr Netanyahu said the arrests were just part of multiple operations being carried out by the military “with the aim of bringing the kidnapped youths home and damaging Hamas in Judaea and Samaria.”