Israeli army blows up Palestinian prisoner’s home in West Bank
That was the house of Mohammed Shahrour in the eastern neighbourhood of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank, according to sources who spoke to Al Jazeera.
The Palestinian Information Center published a video showing smoke billowing into the sky coming from what it said was the house of Shahrour.
This is at least the third punitive home demolition in two days by the Israeli army. On Wednesday, Israeli troops inspected for demolition the house of Barakat Mansour, a slain Palestinian fighter, west of Ramallah, and packed explosives into the home of prisoner Zaid al-Junaidi in Hebron.
Demolishing the homes of Palestinians “suspected of carrying out attacks” on Israelis is a long-held practice of Israel. Thousands of Palestinians have lost their homes to demolitions in what human rights groups say is a policy by Israel of “collective punishment” that may amount to war crimes.
Israeli forces demolish Palestinian homes near Hebron, leaving 15 people displaced
Israeli forces have assaulted Palestinians in a village near Hebron while demolishing three homes housing 15 people, according to the Ma’an news agency.
The demolitions started without previous notice or court order, and the Palestinians were not allowed to move out their belongings, according to the report.
Ar-Rihiya is a Palestinian town 6km (3.7 miles) southwest of Hebron in the southern West Bank.
In a separate episode also near Hebron, Israeli settlers under the protection of Israeli forces attacked shepherds in the Rujoum Ali area in Masafer Yatta. The settlers severely beat a Palestinian who was transferred to hospital for treatment.
Settlers continuously attack shepherds in Masafer Yatta and prevent them from grazing their sheep while they release their sheep on Palestinian lands under the protection of Israeli forces.
