US slams ‘Israel’ for razing house of Palestinian-American family
The U.S. Embassy in ‘Israel’ denounced Israel’s razing and blowing up house of Palestinian-American Montaser Shalabi, in Turmus Ayya town, north of Ramallah on Thursday.
The US said in a statement that all sides should “refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution, this certainly includes the punitive demolition of Palestinian homes.”
It added, “As we stated numerous times, the home of an entire family should not be demolished for the actions of one individual.”
A source at Israel’s new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Office later issued a statement responding to the US condemnation, saying: “The prime minister appreciates and respects the American administration. At the same time, he acts solely in accordance with the State of Israel’s security considerations and protecting the lives of Israeli citizens.”
Israeli occupation forces earlier on Thursday blew up the house of Montaser Shalabi, who is held in Israeli jails.
Local sources said Israeli forces raided the Turmus Ayya town and started bombing the prisoner’s house with explosives to the extent that some nearby buildings in the area of the town were also damaged due to the explosions.
Residents of the area were attacked by the forces when they raided the town. The forces, local sources said, used tear gas canisters and rubber bullets to disperse the residents.
Watch | Israeli occupation forces bombed the house of the Palestinian prisoner, Montaser Al-Shalabi, in Turmus Ayya town, north of Ramallah, last night.#FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/aUuXrnTsGE
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) July 8, 2021
Photos | Israeli occupation forces bombed the house of the Palestinian prisoner, Montaser Al-Shalabi, in Turmus Ayya town, north of Ramallah, last night.#FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/nH1cYdjQ3E
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) July 8, 2021
Last month, Israel’s Supreme Court upheld the decision to destroy the two-story house of the family of the prisoner in a punitive measure, as it rejected a petition by his wife, who lives in the house with their children.
44-year-old Shalabi was detained by Israel’s Shin Bet last May for performing an operation at Za’tara military checkpoint.
Shalabi had opened fire at colonial settlers near Za’tara military checkpoint, wounding 3 of them, one died later.
Shalabi does not belong to any of the resistance factions, however.
The US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had personally intervened and spoken to a “senior Israeli counterpart” prior to the demolition of Shalabi’s house.
The US said that it has prioritized pressuring Israel to halt its punitive policy of demolishing Palestinian homes.
“The secretary and other senior officials here at the State Department in recent days have raised these concerns directly with senior Israeli officials and we will continue to do so as long as this practice continues,” Price said.
