RAMALLAH, Sunday, January 20, 2019 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces last night handed the family of Assem Bargouti, who Israel accuses of killing two Israeli soldiers near Ramallah in December 2018, a notice informing them about a military order to demolish their home, local sources said.

Large-scale Israeli troops stormed the central West Bank village of Kobar, the hometown of Bargouti, in middle of the night before raiding Bargouti’s family home. The soldiers handed Bargouti’s mother the demolition order notice before they took measurements of the home in preparation for its punitive demolition.

Israel has accused Assem of shooting and killing two Israeli soldiers near Ramallah on December 13, a day after soldiers shot and killed his brother, Saleh, in an ambush north of Ramallah, which was described by his family as an extrajudicial execution.

The army has also detained the Barghoutis’ father, Omar, 66, the night of the killing of his son, Saleh, and later their youngest brother, Mohammad, 17.

Israeli occupation forces have long resorted to punitive demolitions of the family homes of Palestinians – as means of deterrence – who are accused of being involved in attacks against Israelis, a policy that Israel does not use against Israeli settlers who are involved in fatal attacks against Palestinians.

B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights group, says: “The people who bear the brunt of the [punitive] demolitions are relatives – including women, the elderly, and children – whom Israel does not suspect of involvement in any offense.”

 “In the vast majority of cases, the person whose actions prompted the demolition was not even living in the house at the time of the demolition,” adds the group.

M.N