NABLUS: Israel’s military on Wednesday destroyed the West Bank home of a Palestinian accused of having killed two Israelis in March, the army said.
Soldiers surrounded the home late Tuesday in Az-Zawiya in the Salfit region of the occupied West Bank before carrying out the demolition using explosives and heavy machinery.
Omar Amin Abu Laila was accused of fatally stabbing soldier Gal Keidan, 19, and stealing his weapon on March 17, the army said at the time.
He then fired at Israeli motorists, hitting 47-year-old rabbi Ahiad Ettinger, a resident of the Eli settlement, who later died of his wounds, according to the army.
Abu Laila, 19, was shot dead two days later during an arrest raid by Israeli forces in the West Bank village of Abwein, north of Ramallah.
Israeli authorities accused Abu Laila of opening fire at forces, who killed him.
Israel routinely demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of attacks as part of a policy it says discourages future violence.
But human rights groups and Palestinians say the practice amounts to collective punishment, with family members forced to pay for the acts of a relative.
Israel destroys home of Palestinian accused of killing two Israelis
Israel destroys home of Palestinian accused of killing two Israelis
- Israel routinely demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of attacks as part of a policy it says discourages future violence
- Human rights groups and Palestinians say the practice amounts to collective punishment
Qatar and UAE continue to fend off aerial threats from Iran say officials
Qatar has said its military thwarted attacks on Hamad International Airport, the Gulf state’s foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday, as Iran pressed a retaliatory campaign across the Gulf.
“There were attempts to attack Hamad International Airport, they were all thwarted... the missiles were downed by our defensive measures, and none of them have reached the airport,” Majed Al-Ansari told a press conference, adding that Qatar had not been in contact with Iran since the start of the strikes.
Al-Ansari said on Tuesday that there was no ongoing communication with Iran.
The spokesperson also said Iranian targets were not limited to military sites, but included all Qatari territory.
In a separate press conference the United Arab Emirates said it has strategic reserves of air defence systems capable of countering aerial threats for a prolonged period, a defence ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday, as the US-Israel war against Iran escalates.
The spokesperson added that the UAE will not accept any infringement on its sovereignty or the safety of its territory.
The UAE state minister for international cooperation added that the UAE was not looking to expand the war.
“We do not seek an expansion of this conflict and do not believe that military solutions lead to stable outcomes,” she said.
(With agencies)
