Israel on Tuesday ordered the demolition of homes in the West Bank hometowns of two Palestinian gunmen who carried out a deadly attack at a Jerusalem bus stop, killing six people. The move will also see hundreds of villagers stripped of work permits in Israel, intensifying tensions in the occupied territory.
The assailants, both from the towns of Qatanna and Qubeiba north of Jerusalem, were killed at the scene after opening fire on civilians waiting at the bus stop on Monday. Israeli police later arrested an East Jerusalem resident on suspicion of assisting the attackers and said they were still searching for others involved.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said sanctions would be imposed on the gunmen’s relatives and fellow villagers. “Every structure built without permits in the two towns will be demolished,” Katz declared, adding that 750 work permits held by residents of the villages, a lifeline for many Palestinian families, would be revoked.
Israel has long maintained that demolishing the homes of attackers’ relatives serves as a deterrent. Palestinians and human rights groups, however, denounce the practice as collective punishment, prohibited under international law.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a strong advocate of loosening gun restrictions, said the attack underscored the need for wider civilian armament. He noted that two armed civilians shot and killed the assailants, crediting them with preventing further bloodshed. “It was again proven that firearms save lives,” Ben Gvir said. He announced plans to expand the list of communities where Israelis can obtain gun licenses.
The measures come amid heightened violence in the West Bank and Gaza, as Israel continues its sweeping military campaign against Hamas.
The punitive actions against entire Palestinian communities are expected to draw further international criticism while fuelling anger among Palestinians already facing mounting restrictions.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
