Duma terror suspect released to house arrest

Jewish West Bank resident believed to be an accessory to firebombing attack that killed Palestinian baby and parents

One of the suspects in the Duma firebomb attack that killed a Palestinian baby and his parents was released to house arrest Friday.

The suspect, who was not identified due to a court-imposed gag order on the investigation, is not one of the minors being held in the investigation. He is a resident of a West Bank settlement, is described as a married father, and was taken into custody 12 days ago by the Shin Bet security service.

The Petah Tikva Magistrate’s Court extended the suspect’s remand until Sunday, but Friday morning investigators said he would be released to five days’ house arrest.

The suspect is not believed to be directly responsible for the July terror attack by suspected Jewish extremists in the northern West Bank village of Duma, but to be an indirect accessory to the act.

Saad and Riham Dawabsha, with baby Ali. All three died when the Dawabsha home in the West Bank village of Duma was firebombed, by suspected Jewish extremists, on July 31, 2015 (Channel 2 screenshot)

The suspect’s attorneys from the Honenu organization, which has offered legal aid to Jewish right-wing extremists, said the release highlights the lack of evidence in the case.

“We’ve been arguing from day one that he is innocent,” said attorney Adi Kedar, “and that the courts, the prosecution and the Shin Bet carried out a false arrest, even when they know he has no ties, no knowledge nothing connected to this event. It’s sad that the police was forced, after finding no evidence or grounds for suspicion, was forced to release him, after the courts, based on some claims, ordered his arrest.”

According to Kedar, “the final word has not yet been said about this incident.”