PHOTO: Family home of Palestinian attacker, razed by Israeli forces on Monday night as deterrent to “terrorism”


Israel’s forces have arrested a Hamas leader and razed the family home of a Palestinian attacker in the West Bank, in their latest actions amid escalating violence.

Hassan Yousef, a senior Hamas official based in Ramallah, was among more than 20 Palestinians detained overnight for “popular terror”. Yousef was accused of “publicly inciting and instigating terrorism”, such as demonstrations which have included throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails against Israeli security forces, and calling for attacks on Israelis.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces razed the Hebron home of Maher Hamdi el-Hashlamoun, who ran over and stabbed to death an Israeli civilian in November 2014.

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner said:

Last night’s activity sends a clear message that there is a personal price to pay when you are involved in terror. We will utilize all the necessary means in order to protect innocent civilians from the atrocities of those engaged in stabbing, shooting and the killing of innocent Israelis.

Clashes between troops and Palestinians followed the demolition.

Since October 1, at least 43 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli security forces in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. Eight Israelis have died in stabbings by Palestinian men.

On Sunday, an Israeli soldier was killed and 11 people wounded by a Bedouin attacker in the Central Bus Station in Beersheba. Last night, a 19-year-old Palestinian was shot in the leg by Israeli forces during clashes after a military raid in Tuqu village near Bethlehem.

See Israel-Palestine Feature: October Death Toll Passes 50 — Israeli Soldier & Asylum Seeker Killed, More Palestinians Wounded

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki said Palestine Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas will meet with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Amman, Jordan, on Friday. A senior official said Abbas will tell Kerry that the international community should give guarantees of a timetable for Israel to end the occupation of Palestine.