Israel demolishes the family home of a Palestinian involved in an attack that killed four settlers in the West Bank
The Israeli army today demolished the family home of a Palestinian linked to the Hamas militias involved in an attack that led to the deaths of four Israeli settlers last June near the settlement of Eli in the northern West Bank, one of Israeli-occupied territory since 1967. “On June 20, Bassel Shehade, a Hamas terrorist, helped carry out a terrorist attack on a gas station” near the Israeli colony of Eli, which “resulted in the deaths of four civilians.” Israelis” and several injured, a military spokesman said of the Israeli retaliation.
That night, Israeli army and border police forces demolished Shehadeh's home in the northern West Bank town of Urif. According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli forces blew up the house in the early hours of today after “large army forces broke into the southern part of the village and surrounded the house of Shehadeh,” who is now in prison .
Shehadeh carried out the attack alongside another Palestinian, both members of Hamas' Al-Qasam Brigades, which killed the four Israelis, prompting increased Israeli army raids in the West Bank and paving the way for a military offensive. A three-day attack by land and air took place in early July in the city of Jenin, killing 12 Palestinians linked to local militias and one Israeli soldier.
According to the Army, “today's demolition follows the destruction in recent days of homes of other terrorists involved in the same attack.”
The West Bank has been experiencing a sharp escalation of tensions for more than a year and the sharpest increase in violence with Israel since the Second Intifada (2000–2005), which intensified after the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza began on October 7. Since then, some 368 Palestinians in the West Bank have died in violent incidents with Israel, and Palestinian sources say the army has arrested more than 6,000 Palestinians, while raids and crackdowns in West Bank cities occur almost daily, often resulting in clashes and deaths. of Palestinian residents.
At least 49 Palestinians and four Israelis have died in violence in the region since the start of the year, after more than 520 Palestinians and 40 Israelis were killed at the end of 2023, the highest number since 2002. Israel normally demolishes the homes of Palestinian families accused of years in of carrying out deadly attacks in occupied territories, a policy that human rights groups view as a form of collective punishment. For their part, the Israeli authorities justify this as a deterrent measure to prevent further attacks.
Israeli forces took control of the West Bank in 1967 and have long occupied and colonized the area militarily since then. (Efe)