Hamas yesterday threatened to kidnap Israeli soldiers in order to try to exchange them for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin said in Gaza City there was "no solution for the issue of (Palestinian) prisoners except by capturing soldiers of the enemy and exchanging them for ours". Yassin's comment followed a landmark prisoner swap between Israel and the Hizbollah on Thursday. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowed to deal harshly with any future kidnappers. Earlier, two Palestinian teenagers were shot dead by Israeli troops near Gaza City, while a fighter was gunned down in the southern West Bank. Israeli forces also raided the West Bank town of Bethlehem yesterday in response to a deadly Jerusalem bus bombing and blew up the house of the assailant. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Palestinian boys pose for a picture with the spiritual leader of Hamas Sheikh Ahmed Yassin (R) after he attended Friday prayers in Al-Mogamai mosque in Gaza City January 30, 2004. (Nayef Hashlamoun/Reuters)