Clashes as IDF maps for demolition home of Palestinian who killed soldier

Security forces arrive in the al-Am’ari refugee camp in the West Bank to map for demolition the home of Palestinian who killed an IDF soldie

Times of Israel reports, “Palestinian protesters clashed violently with security forces overnight Tuesday as the army surveyed the family home of a Palestinian who killed an IDF soldier, ahead of its demolition. Israel Defense Forces units arrived in the al-Am’ari refugee camp near Ramallah to map the home of Islam Yousef Abu Hamid, who killed Ronen Lubarsky in May by dropping a marble slab on his head from a rooftop. Rioters hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at security forces who responded with riot dispersal methods, the IDF said in a statement. There were no reports of injuries.”

“The army added that in other operations across the West Bank seven people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in terror and popular terror activities against civilians and security forces. Two weeks ago Hamid’s family was informed that the IDF intends to destroy all four stories of the building, and not just two floors as had previously been stated. The IDF noted that the home was erected on a plot where a building was previously demolished in the 1990’s following an attack by Hamid’s brother. At the time, the family was ordered not to rebuild the structure. A military court filed an indictment in May against Hamid, 32, charging him with murder.”…

“Israel says the practice of demolishing terrorists’ homes is an effective means of discouraging future attacks, though it has been criticized by human rights groups as a form of collective punishment and by some analysts as an ineffective deterrent measure.” (more…)