Israel razes homes of three Palestinian attackers

Israeli forces, Palestinians exchange fire during demolitions

NABLUS, Palestinian Territories, April 4, (Agencies): Israeli forces demolished the family homes early on Monday of three Palestinians killed after a deadly attack in east Jerusalem in February, Palestinian security sources and the Israeli army said.

The three homes were destroyed in Qabatiya in the northern West Bank, an Israeli army statement said.

“Security forces demolished the residences of Ahmed Najeh Ismaeel Naser, Muhammad Ahmed Kmail, and Ahmed Najeh Abu al-Roub in the village of Qabatiya south of Jenin,” a statement said.

Exchanges of fire between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians broke out during the demolitions and left two Palestinians wounded, Palestinian security sources said.

The three men attacked Israeli security forces near the Damascus Gate entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City on February 3 using rifles, knives and pipe bombs.

They killed 19-year-old Hadar Cohen and seriously wounded another officer before being shot dead by police.

The United Nations, which monitors Israeli home demolitions, confirmed the latest demolitions but said the number of family members left homeless was not yet clear.

Israel regularly demolishes the family homes of Palestinian attackers in a bid to deter violence, but human rights activists say the policy amounts to collec-

tive punishment, forcing relatives to suffer for the acts of others.

In February’s attack outside Jerusalem’s Old City, according to Israeli authorities, three Palestinian men in their early 20’s drew rifles and knives and attacked two female officers during a security check, killing a 19-yearold officer. They were killed by Israeli officers at the scene.

Israel argues that home demolitions are an effective tool to deter attacks, but critics say the tactic amounts to

collective punishment.

Also Monday, the military reported an Israeli soldier was stabbed and wounded in central Israel, and that forces were searching for the attacker, but later said it was checking the possibility that it was a false report.

Palestinian attacks in the last six months have killed 28 Israelis and two Americans, and at least 188 Palestinians have died by Israeli fire. Israel says most were attackers, and the rest died in clashes with Israeli security forces. This photo shows bowls used for eating lying amongst the leaves outside the demolished dormitories of the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. There’s not much left of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, where Boko Haram kidnapped 276 teenagers in the dead on night nearly two years ago. Even the word ‘girls’ on the school sign outside has been painted over in black — hidden from the world, just

like the 219 students who are still missing. (AFP)