Israel to demolish homes of those suspected of attacking settlers in Nablus

The Israeli army yesterday notified the families of three Palestinians suspected of carrying out a fatal attack against two settlers near Nablus, northern West Bank, earlier this month of its intention to demolish their homes, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reported.

The families of three Palestinians identified as Karam Al-Masri, Yehya Haj Hamad and Samir Kousa – who are currently being held in Israeli jails – have received notices ordering them to evict their homes ahead of their demolition within 48 hours.

Israel’s Security Cabinet decided, during its meeting on Tuesday night, to demolish the homes of Palestinian attackers and confiscate their land.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army said in a statement yesterday that it would demolish the homes of seven Palestinians suspected of carrying out attacks against Israelis since June.

Turkey’s Anadolu said five of the seven Palestinians are currently incarcerated in Israeli jails, one in the Palestinian Authority prison and one was killed after carrying out a stabbing attack in Jerusalem earlier this month.

The Israeli army handed notification letters to the families of Abdullah Hamid Munir who is imprisoned in an Israeli jail and Moath Hamid imprisoned by Palestinian security to evacuate their homes in the town of Silwad, east of Ramallah, within 72 hours, according to witnesses.

Israel accuses Munir and Hamid of belonging to a military cell responsible for carrying out an attack in which an Israeli soldier was killed and three settlers were wounded near the city of Nablus in June.

The army also handed an eviction notice to the family of prisoner Abed Mohammed Abu Shahin from the Qalandia refugee camp, north of Ramallah.

Abu Shahin is accused of leading a military cell that carried out a shooting attack in June that led to the killing of a settler and wounded another.

The family of Shafiq Muhannad Al-Halabi, who was killed on 3 October after he attempted to stab and shoot Israelis in Jerusalem, were also handed an eviction notice.

The West Bank and East Jerusalem have witnessed mounting tensions over the past month triggered by the Israeli army and extremist settlers’ incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque.