Israeli forces prepare to destroy family home of Palestinian who killed settlers

Israeli forces stormed the Palestinian village of Haris, near the West Bank town of Salfit, on Wednesday morning, raiding the home of the perpetrator of an attack, which left three Israeli settlers dead, and preparing it for its demolition.

Eighteen-year-old Mohammed Mourad Souf stabbed three Israelis to death in the settlement of Ariel, which is built on land confiscated from Salfit, before being shot dead by Israeli forces on Tuesday.

Eissa Souf, a rights activist from Hares, told The New Arab’s sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Israeli forces interrogated Mohammed Souf's family members and drilled holes in the walls of the home to prepare for its demolition.

Israel regularly demolishes the family homes of Palestinians who carry out attacks on Israelis, an act decried as collective punishment by rights groups.

Israeli forces also sealed the entrances to the village of Hares and prevented workers related to Souf from going to their workplace - a factory in the Israeli settlement of Burkan.

Israeli settlers stoned Palestinian cars near Hares, damaging several, as clashes broke out between local residents and Israeli troops. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians in a number of other towns near Hares.

Near the city of Tulkarm, settlers attacked Burhan Jarab, a 72-year-old truck driver, beating him and burning his truck after he was forced to abandon it.

Israeli forces have killed and injured hundreds of Palestinians in near-daily attacks on cities and towns in the West Bank this year, making 2022 the deadliest year for Palestinians since 2005 according to the United Nations.