IDF informs terrorist’s family their home is set for demolition

The Israeli military informs the family of Khaled Mustafa Sabah, one of two Hamas terrorists who carried out a deadly shooting attack at a West Bank gas station in June, that their home is slated for demolition.

On June 20, Sabah and Muhannad Faleh Shehadeh opened fire at diners at a hummus restaurant and at motorists at an adjacent gas station near the West Bank settlement of Eli, killing four Israelis and wounding four others.

Shehadeh was shot dead at the scene by an armed civilian, while Sabah fled in a car stolen from the gas station, and was killed some two hours later by special forces.

The Israel Defense Forces measured both their homes in the West Bank town of Urif a day after the attack, in the first step before a potential demolition.

Sabah’s family on Friday was formally notified of the military’s intention to raze their home, the IDF says.

As a matter of policy, Israel regularly demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out deadly terror attacks.

Sabah’s family can still appeal the decision to raze the home to Israel’s High Court of Justice. But such attempts rarely succeed, though in some cases the court can limit the demolition order to only the parts of the house used by the terrorist.