Israeli authorities demolished the homes of two terrorists who killed Rina Shnerb
The IDF demolished the homes on Wednesday night of two of the terrorists involved in the attack that killed Rina Shnerb in August, an IDF spokesperson confirmed on Thursday morning.
The home of Yazen Hassin Hassni Mjames in Birzeit, north of Ramallah, and the walls of the home of Walid Hanatshe in the Ramallah area were demolished overnight by IDF soldiers.
Head of the Benjamin Regional Command, Colonel Yonatan Stienberg said on Thursday that “[we will] let any would-be terrorist know that his house will be destroyed and [then] watched to ensure it is not rebuilt,” following the Wednesday night operation.
Clashes broke out between the IDF and Palestinians, with dozens of protesters suffering from suffocation due to tear gas, according to Palestinian reports. Two youths were reportedly wounded by rubber bullets in the clashes, as Palestinian youth were called upon to go to the houses as the army headed towards the two structures.
The military stated that violent disturbances broke out during the demolition, with dozens of Palestinians burning tires and throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails towards soldiers, who responded with riot dispersal methods.
Palestinian media claimed that IDF soldiers stormed apartments near Hanatshe’s house and “terrorized the residents, especially the children.” The soldiers then took pictures of the house after the demolition, according to the reports.
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett spoke with Shnerb’s parents on Thursday morning and said “we settled the score with the heinous murderers. Those who spill Jewish blood will be held accountable.”
“We must exact a heavy price from all who raise their hand to harm an Israeli citizen,” he added. “We won’t stop going after those who wish to harm us.”
Last month, the High Court of Justice approved the IDF’s intention to demolish the houses of Shnerb’s killers despite the impact it would have on uninvolved family members and their neighbors.
Bian Hanatashe, Halmi Hamdan and Sana’a Magamus, family members of Shnerb’s killers, had all petitioned the High Court to block the demolition orders.
Israel’s home demolitions are widely panned globally as violating the Geneva Conventions ban on collective punishment. But Israel says it has a legal basis as a “military necessity” under Article 53 of the conventions.
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has provided examples where it says arrested Palestinians told interrogators they held back from a terrorist attack for fear of what would happen to their families’ houses.
Source: JP
