The IDF is investigating a suspicion that an IDF soldier from the Druze village of Usefiya, Tliya Hamdan, was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists four days ago. His body was found on Saturday night in the Mt. Carmel forests, not far from his home, two days after he was first reported missing. His rifle was found next to his body, leading police to assume that he had committed suicide. An autopsy could not rule out murder, however, and family members said his body showed signs of having been beaten. Complicating the picture was an announcement last night by the Fatah Al-Aksa Brigades claiming that it had murdered the soldier in response to Israel's policies. The terrorists explained that the delay in releasing the announcement stemmed from the desire to ensure that the terrorists returned safely home. The army is investigating the conflicting evidence.