For 2nd time, IDF demolishes home of gunman who killed soldier at checkpoint in 2023

In a rare move, the IDF demolishes the home of a Palestinian gunman who killed an Israeli soldier at a checkpoint near Jerusalem in 2023, after the home was rebuilt following its first demolition last year.

Overnight, IDF troops operated in the West Bank city of Hebron to demolish the home of Abdelqader Qawasmeh.

Qawasmeh was one of three members of the Hamas terror group who attacked the “tunnels” checkpoint on the West Bank’s Route 60, south of Jerusalem in November 2023, killing Cpl. Avraham Fetena, a Military Police soldier.

As a matter of policy, Israel demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out deadly attacks. Rarely does Israel re-demolish homes that are rebuilt.

Israel defends the practice of razing the family home of attackers as a deterrent against future assaults. Over the years, a number of Israeli defense officials have questioned the efficacy of the practice, and human rights activists have denounced it as unfair collective punishment.