Israel issues demolition orders to 4 Palestinian families

Israeli occupation forces are set to demolish the homes of four Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, residents were informed today.

Demolition orders were handed to the families after Israel accused some of their members of carrying out attacks against its officers in two separate attacks in occupied East Jerusalem, the Times of Israel reported.

The houses of the four young men who are believed to be behind the attacks were raided early this morning in the village of Deir Abu Mashaal. All four men had been shot dead during the alleged attacks.

Read: Timeline of Israel’s anti-Palestinian laws since 1948

According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, 22 people will be left homeless as a result of the demolitions. The families have 72 hours to appeal to Israel’s High Court of Justice to stop the proceedings otherwise the homes will be razed on Thursday.

Israel often uses collective punishment to deter Palestinians from rising up to its illegal occupation and discriminatory laws.