On August 8, Early Tuesday, Israeli security forces destroyed the West Bank residence of a Palestinian man who was accused of conducting a fatal shooting earlier this year. This action has added to the existing tensions in the occupied region of the West Bank.
Israel Defense Forces entered the Askar refugee Camp, Nablus to demolish the home of Abdul Fattah Kharousheh, a suspected Hamas member. With a land area of only 0.12 square kilometers (0.05 square miles), the Askar refugee camp stands is one of the most densely populated camps in the West Bank, with a minimum of 30,000 Palestinians.
Israeli forces accused Abdul Fattah Kharousheh for his involvement in the fatal shooting of two Israeli settlers, Halel Menachem Yaniv and his brother Yagel Yaakov Yaniv, in February as they drove through the West Bank town of Huwara.
Later in the following months, The Israeli forces killed Abdul FattahKharousheh, aged 49 during a raid. This incident led to the demolition of the Kharousheh’s home.
Kharousheh’s home in Nablus was set up for demolition for several months, alongside that of his son, who was assisting his father in planning the attack.
While the military published a video of the demolition process, only Khaled Kharousheh’s home had been designated for demolition, leaving the reason for not including Muhammed Kharousheh’s residence unclear.
In statements to the local media, Kharousheh’s wife expressed that the destruction of their family home would not weaken their determination. She affirmed, they would stay strong and unwavering despite the Israeli occupation’s actions.
Following the destruction of the residence, the thick smoke spread throughout the densely populated neighborhood and filled the air prompting neighbors to assess the extent of the damage.
Prior to the demolition, Israeli soldiers forced approximately 60 Palestinians, including 20 children, who lived close to the Kharousheh family’s home, to leave their houses. These people were briefly kept in a nearby mosque, as reported by Wafa.
During the nighttime hours, Israeli forces reportedly entered Nablus with the intention of demolishing the residence situated on the third floor belonging to Khreishah.
As reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli forces surrounded Abdelfattah Kharousheh’s home on the third floor on Tuesday night and later exploded it six hours after the operation.
The Israeli military issued a statement indicating that multiple “violent disturbances were incited, involving the throwing of rocks and the ignition of tires.”
Additionally, the military stated that there were cases of explosive devices being thrown and live ammunition being shot at the forces, leading them to use riot control methods in return.
Controversial Israeli Policy of Demolishing Homes of Palestinians Accused in Deadly Attacks sparks debate.
Israel’s have a controversial policy of demolishing the homes of Palestinians accused of deadly attacks, along with those suspected of aiding them, aims to prevent future assaults.
The process of demolishing homes, a procedure that often takes months, involves careful preparation and legal procedures. Security forces strategically time their entries into Palestinian areas for these operations.
Human rights defenders express worries about the policy affecting innocent civilians, especially children, and see it as a way of punishing everyone in a group, even those not involved in fighting, which can leave them without a home.
Critics of the policy also pose inquiries regarding its effectiveness, they condemn destroying homes of uninvolved parents, spouses, and children of alleged attackers leavung them homeless that serves the ongoing cycle of hostility and aggression.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas, controlling the Gaza Strip, has denounced this tactic as ineffective and warned that it may provoke resistance.
The Israeli government defends these demolitions as a preventive measure against future attacks.
West Bank Tensions between Israel and Palestine
The northern West Bank emerges as a focal point of violence between Palestinian armed groups and increased Israeli military activity. Frequent military raids on Palestinian areas have stoked unrest, leading to both Israeli and Palestinian casualties.
The United Nations warns that 2024 could become the deadliest year for Palestinians since recorded statistics began, raising alarms about the humanitarian toll of the ongoing clashes.
West Bank was occupied by the Israeli forces occupation in 1967. The region continues to witness clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces.
The territory is home to millions of Palestinians and a significant number of Israeli settlers, residing in settlements deemed illegal under international law.
Palestinian attacking against Israelis, Israeli military operations, and violent incidents involving extremist Jewish settlers lead to a continuous cycle of Violence in the region.
This year alone, over 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, while at least 26 lives have been claimed by Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
