Israel army demolishes West Bank home of Tel Aviv shooter
The first-floor apartment of Palestinian militant Mutaz Khawaja in the occupied West Bank lies in ruins after Israeli troops blew it up in the early hours
Nilin – Israeli troops on Tuesday demolished the West Bank home of a Palestinian militant who was killed after carrying out a 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 terrorist Mutaz Khawaja, who carried out a shooting attack on March 9, 2023 in Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv,” an army statement said.
Khawaja, 23, was a member of Hamas armed wing Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the Palestinian Islamist group that rules Gaza has said.
He was shot dead by Israeli police after the attack, which killing 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 (12 miles) 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 shooter’s first floor flat at dawn.
The army released video of troops setting explosive charges before blowing up the apartment.
Residents draped large portraits of Khawaja over the side of the building, commemorating him as a “martyr”, an AFP photographer reported.
Troops clashed with “rioters” during the operation, the army said. The mayor said three people were injured.
Israel, which has occupied the West Bank since 1967, routinely demolishes the homes of individuals it blames for 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 some Palestinians from carrying out attacks.