Israeli forces destroyed memorials dedicated to Palestinians across the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, the third anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, the army and Palestinian officials confirmed.
An Israeli army spokesperson told AFP that troops had acted “to destroy monuments to terrorists”, without directly linking the operation to the anniversary of the 2023 attack.
Jenin and Nablus raids: Israel destroys Palestinian memorials
Troops destroyed a stone monument and tore down commemorative posters in the northern district of Jenin, governorate spokeswoman Hala Abu Baker told AFP. She said a memorial to Yasser Hamdouni had been demolished in the town of Yaabad, and photographs of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces were removed from several places in Jenin city.
Hamdouni was accused of killing an Israeli settler in 2003 and died in 2016 while serving a life sentence.
In Nablus, soldiers destroyed five memorials to Palestinians killed in recent years in different parts of the city and detained scores of residents, deputy mayor Iyad Bakeer told AFP.
Israeli politicians have often condemned such monuments as glorifying attacks, but it is uncommon for the army to physically destroy them, especially in areas that are nominally under Palestinian Authority control.
Family home demolished near Jerusalem
In a separate action on Wednesday, the army destroyed the home of a Palestinian man accused of killing an Israeli settler last month. The town’s mayor, Nazmi Mansour, and an AFP journalist reported the demolition in Beit Duqqu, northwest of Jerusalem.
Mansour told AFP that Israeli soldiers entered the town at 4am and handed out leaflets warning that they would demolish the home of detainee Qadri Samara. An AFP journalist watched an Israeli military bulldozer clear the rubble of the house after it was blown up during a heavy deployment of troops.
Israel routinely demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks. It says the practice deters further violence, while rights groups call it collective punishment of families who were not involved.
The toll keeps rising
Violence in the West Bank has surged in the three years since the October 7 attack, driven in part by Hamas’s rivals. An AFP tally based on figures from the Palestinian health ministry says Israeli forces or settlers have killed 1,113 Palestinians in the territory since the Gaza war began.
Israeli figures show at least 49 Israelis, including civilians and security personnel, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations in the same period.
FAQ
What did Israeli forces do on October 7?
On the third anniversary of Hamas’s attack, troops destroyed memorials dedicated to Palestinians across the West Bank and demolished the family home of a Palestinian detainee near Jerusalem.
Where were the memorials destroyed?
In the Jenin district, including Yaabad and Jenin city, and in Nablus, where five memorials were destroyed.
How did the Israeli army describe the operation?
An army spokesperson said troops acted “to destroy monuments to terrorists”, without explicitly connecting the move to the anniversary.
How many people have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023?
According to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry data, 1,113 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers. Israeli figures put the Israeli death toll at 49.
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Originally reported by dawn.com.
