Israel orders homes of alleged Palestinian attackers razed
Israeli authorities order homes of four Palestinian families demolished after their sons stage alleged attacks on Israelis
RAMALLAH, Palestine
In line with a new policy announced this week by Israel’s security cabinet, the Israeli authorities on Thursday ordered the homes of four Palestinian families to be demolished after their sons allegedly carried out attacks on Israelis.
Hasan Breijieh, coordinator of a local committee opposed to construction of Israeli settlements on confiscated Palestinian land, told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that the Israeli authorities had presented two Palestinian families from Silwad village near Ramallah with demolition orders for their homes.
The authorities, he added, had presented similar orders to a Palestinian family from the Qalandia Refugee camp in occupied East Jerusalem.
According to the orders, targeted families have 72 hours to evacuate their homes before they are demolished or lodge an appeal against the decision, said Breijieh.
On the same day, Israeli forces stormed the village of Sorda in northern Ramallah, where they also presented the family of Mohannad Halabi with demolition orders.
Two weeks ago, Halabi, 17, reportedly stabbed two Israelis to death in occupied East Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, Israel’s security cabinet announced a fresh raft of punitive measures to be applied against Palestinians who allegedly attack Israelis.
The new measures allow the authorities to demolish the homes of alleged Palestinian attackers, whether in the Israeli-occupied West Bank or in East Jerusalem.
The security cabinet decision also allows the authorities to revoke the citizenship of alleged attackers.
Furthermore, the fresh raft of measures allows Israeli police to seal off Palestinian neighborhoods of occupied East Jerusalem, the site of recent deadly clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians.
This month alone, more than 30 of the latter have been killed by Israeli security forces, while some 1,700 have been hurt by Israeli gunfire, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked has said her ministry had begun procedures aimed at revoking the citizenship and residency permits of Palestinians -- and their families -- who had allegedly carried out attacks inside Israel, Israeli radio reported Thursday.
She also reiterated that the homes of alleged Palestinian attackers and their families would be subject to demolition.
Shaked went on to describe Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas -- who recently reiterated his commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict while also refraining from condemning recent Palestinian attacks on Israelis -- as a “terrorist”.
