Israel said to nix 1,100 Palestinian entry permits over relatives’ terror ties
According to unnamed security officials, hundreds of family members of recent attackers have been barred from entering
Israel has revoked the entry permits of over 1,100 Palestinians whose relatives were involved in terror attacks, including several recent deadly assaults, according to security officials cited by multiple Hebrew media outlets Tuesday.
The comments were made anonymously to a number of outlets including Channel 12 and Walla news. There was no official confirmation from authorities.
The decision will reportedly prevent some 1,130 Palestinian relatives of convicted terrorists from entering Israel for employment and commerce purposes.
“Any Palestinian who thinks of choosing the way of terror should know that the attack he commits will critically harm his family,” an official was quoted as saying.
Another unnamed official was quoted as saying that “Israel possesses quite a few civilian tools for addressing security issues,” adding that “we can see families expressing anger toward the terrorists in light of the permits being revoked.”
“This is an effective tool meant to deter potential terrorists from carrying out terror attacks… The security establishment is working with all agencies and in full capacity. We will exact a heavy toll from the terrorists, their accomplices and those who incite terror,” the official added.
The decision comes amid an ongoing wave of terrorism in Israel that has claimed the lives of 19 people since March 22.
Responding to the spiraling violence, the Israeli army has stepped up its activities in the West Bank.
The most recent attack, carried out on Sunday evening at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City, saw a Palestinian from the West Bank who was in Israel illegally stab a police officer in the neck.
The alleged assailant was named as 20-year-old Nadheer Marzouq, from the West Bank town of Abwein, north of Ramallah.
The new policy will see entry permits revoked from some 137 of his relatives, the reports said.
Other terrorists’ family members affected by the policy include 124 Palestinians related to Motasem Mohammad Taleb Atallah, 19, who was shot while infiltrating the Tekoa West Bank settlement with a knife on Sunday.
The bloody attack carried out on Thursday in the ultra-Orthodox city of Elad in central Israel by Subhi Emad and As’ad Yousef As’ad al-Rifa’i will see entry permits revoked from 206 of their relatives.
The policy will also affect hundreds of relatives of terrorists who carried out recent attacks in Ariel, Tel Aviv and Bnei Brak, reports noted.
In related news, Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Monday suggested that Israel would employ “every means possible” to root out the deeper reasons behind terrorism in Israel, including incitement.
“We will cut off the hand holding the knife, lay our hands on those who spread incitement and blood libels in the name of religion,” Gantz told his Blue and White party during a faction meeting.
“We will eradicate the terror wave, as long as it takes, at whatever price. There are no restrictions, and there will be no restraints. We operate in villages, cities, and networks. We are working with every means possible.”
