Israeli army demolishes Palestinian home over attack on settler

RAMALLAH, PALESTINE: Israeli forces raided the village of Silat al-Harithiya in the West Bank city of Jenin, destroying the house of a Palestinian Omar Jaradat, who was accused of killing an Israeli settler last year.

Clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli forces following the demolition. Hapless Palestinians threw stones and firebombs, to which the Israeli soldiers responded with low-caliber Ruger rounds. It must be noted that human rights groups condemn the use of Ruger fire during conflicts as the weapon is sufficient to cause death.

Five Palestinians associated with last year’s attack have been detained by Israel and their families have been informed that their homes will be demolished as a punitive measure.

The homes of Palestinians suspected of carrying out attacks are regularly demolished by Israel. This practice has been condemned by human rights groups as a form of collective punishment.

According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Israeli government destroyed 177 Palestinian-owned structures in East Jerusalem, displacing 343 people in 2021. Since 1967, Israeli authorities have demolished 28,000 Palestinian homes, uprooting entire households.

Feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness about the future, coupled with frustration and anger have been reported among families that lose their homes to such planned demolitions. The anger and resentment because of their living conditions as a result of Israel’s unlawful demolition policy is an important factor triggering reactionary violence among Palestinians. Palestinian families whose homes have been demolished consider ‘death more merciful than a demolition,’ as quoted by Defense for Children International-Palestine.