Qabatiya: Israeli authorities today ordered the demolition of the family home of a Palestinian detainee in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin, according to local sources. Sources said Israeli forces stormed the family home of detainee Ahmad Abu al-Rubb, re-sealed the property, and served the family with a demolition notice, granting them 72 hours to submit an objection.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Israeli forces shot and injured the young man Abu al-Rubb on December 26, before detaining him, after he allegedly carried out a ramming and stabbing attack in the Beisan area inside the 1948 territories. Israel resorts to punitively demolish the family homes of any Palestinians accused of being involved in attacks against Israelis, a policy that Israel does not use against Israeli colonists who were involved in fatal attacks against Palestinians.
Al-Haq human rights group criticized the punitive home demolition of Palestinians suspected of being involved in attacks against Israelis, labeling it as collective punishment. They argue that, in accordance with humanitarian law and human rights law, it is assessed as a war crime and a crime against humanity.
B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights group, highlighted that 'the people who bear the brunt of the [punitive] demolitions are relatives - including women, the elderly, and children - whom Israel does not suspect of involvement in any offense.' They noted that 'the official objective of the house demolition policy is deterrence . yet the deterrent effect of house demolitions has never been proven.'
Amnesty International also emphasized that 'collective punishment is never permissible under any circumstances.'