MOSCOW, November 22 (Sputnik) — Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Saturday slammed Israel's policy of knocking down the homes of Palestinians suspected of attacking Israelis as a war crime.
"Israel should impose an immediate moratorium on its policy of demolishing the family homes of Palestinians suspected of carrying out attacks on Israelis," a statement issued by the watchdog said. "The policy, which Israeli officials claim is a deterrent, deliberately and unlawfully punishes people not accused of any wrongdoing. When carried out in occupied territory, including East Jerusalem, it amounts to collective punishment, a war crime."
HRW noted Israel has knocked down or sealed the family homes of Palestinians five times this year, whereas on November 19 Israeli troops exploded the family home of a man who killed a baby girl and a woman in October. More demolitions are yet to come, according to the watchdog.
"Punitive home demolitions are blatantly unlawful. Israel should prosecute, convict, and punish criminals, not carry out vengeful destruction that harms entire families," said HRW Deputy Director for Middle East and North Africa Joe Stork as quoted in the statement.
Israel has been widely practicing house demolition since the 2000s in a bid to discourage terror attacks. The recent wave of demolitions started after an attack had been made on a synagogue on November 18 in Jerusalem, which led to the death of four people. Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered that the homes of the terrorists who stood behind the recent series of attacks be razed to the ground.
