What is left of one of the Deir Abu Meshal homes after it was demolished by the Israeli military. (WAFA photo/Baha Nasr) 

RAMALLAH, August 10, 2017 (WAFA) – In a measure seen as punitive and collective punishment, the Israeli army Thursday blew up three homes and sealed shut a fourth in two West Bank villages belonging to the families of Palestinians who were allegedly engaged in deadly attacks against Israelis this year.

Israeli forces broke into the village of Deir Abu Meshal, to the northwest of Ramallah, and demolished the family homes of Bara Saleh and Osama Ata, who were shot dead by Israeli police after carrying out an attack against Israeli police in Jerusalem at the end of June killing one officer.

The forces also blocked with cement the home of Adel Ankoush in Deir Abu Meshal, who was also shot dead after being engaged in the same Jerusalem attack, after they were unable to blow it up for being too close to other homes and residential buildings.

Clashes erupted in the village between the forces and local residents during which two Palestinians were injured. Others also suffocated from teargas inhalation after they were attacked by teargas canisters fired by the Israeli forces.

Family members of the alleged assailants had also their Israeli work permits revoked, including 50 who were dependent on work inside Israel. Some 250,000 Palestinians who had received family visitation permits to enter Jerusalem and Israel during Ramadan also saw their permits revoked following the attack.

Meanwhile, an army force stormed the village of Silwad, north of Ramallah, and blew up the home of Malek Hamed, currently in Israeli jail, who allegedly carried out an attack on Israeli soldiers near Ofra settlement last April killing a soldier.

Israel has come under harsh condemnation over the past several years for its response to attacks committed by Palestinians on Israelis – including punitive home demolitions affecting the relatives of slain Palestinians – which rights groups have said amounts to collective punishment and represents a clear violation of international law.

Israeli authorities have claimed that punitive home demolitions act as a deterrent against future attacks, despite an Israeli military committee stating said the practice is not only ineffective at preventing attacks, but increases hostility towards Israel.

M.N./M.K.