IDF measures homes of two Palestinians involved in Friday shooting, for demolition

The Israeli army says it has measured the homes of two Palestinians involved in the deadly shooting in the West Bank village of Tell on Friday, ahead of their planned demolition.

Troops over the weekend mapped out the home of the Palestinian who opened fire with a gun snatched from an Israeli security officer, killing civil defense squad member Master Sergeant (res.) Benayahu Mellet, 32, and IDF officer Maj. Yuval Ezra, 27, before being shot dead.

The IDF says it also measured the home of the Palestinian who snatched the gun to begin with, who was shot and wounded in the incident and later captured by IDF commandos in a hospital in Nablus.

“The homes of the two terrorists were mapped in preparation for the temporary sealing of the houses, which is expected to be carried out as a preliminary step before their demolition,” the IDF says, adding that “decisions regarding the temporary sealing will be made in accordance with the recommendations of the security authorities and through an orderly process that includes all the required approvals.”

Israel regularly demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out deadly terror attacks as a matter of policy. The efficacy of the policy has been hotly debated even within the Israeli security establishment, while human rights activists denounce the practice as unjust collective punishment.