NILIN: Israeli troops on Tuesday demolished the West Bank home of a Palestinian fighter who was killed after carrying out allegedly deadly shooting in the heart of Tel Aviv in March.

“Forces of the army and the border police destroyed the home in the village of Nilin of the Mutaz Khawaja, who carried out [allegedly] shooting attack on March 9, 2023 in Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv,” an army statement said.

Khawaja, 23, was a member of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the wing of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas which rules Gaza.

He was shot dead by Israeli police after the allegedly attack, which killed one Israeli and wounded two more.

His home village lies close to the Green Line which separates Israel from the occupied West Bank, and barely 20 kilometres from Tel Aviv.

Nilin mayor Yusef Khawaja said Israeli troops made all residents of the four-storey apartment block leave their homes before demolishing the Khawaja’s first floor flat at dawn.

The army released video of troops setting explosive charges before blowing up the apartment. Large portraits of Khawaja had been draped over the side of the building, commemorating him as a ‘martyr’. The mayor said three people were injured in Israeli operation.

Israel, which has occupied the West Bank since 1967, routinely demolishes the homes of individuals it blames for deadly attacks on Israelis.

Human rights activists say the policy amounts to collective punishment, as it can render non-combatants, including children, homeless. But Israel says the practice is effective in deterring from carrying out attacks.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2023