What’s happening:

The Israel Defense Forces and Border Police demolished the Hebron home of a Hamas operative who was involved in a deadly attack near Jerusalem in November. Two other homes linked to the attack have already been destroyed.

Why it matters:

This operation represents part of Israel’s controversial policy to deter future terrorism by targeting the homes of attackers. Critics argue this approach as a form of collective punishment, while proponents assert it may prevent further attacks.

The backdrop:

The demolished home belonged to Hassan Qafisha, identified as one of three Hamas members responsible for the attack on the “tunnels” checkpoint, which resulted in the death of Cpl. Avraham Fetena, 20, and injured five others. Palestinian media note that Qafisha’s father led Hamas’s military in Hebron until his death in 2003.

Addressing violence:

Violence in the West Bank spiked following a massive Hamas-led incursion into Israel on October 7, leading to stringent military responses and extensive arrest campaigns.

Overlook:

Since Israel’s vow to dismantle Hamas’s presence in Gaza, the IDF has detained over 3,000 suspects in the West Bank, with around 1,350 reportedly linked to Hamas. Over the same period, the Palestinian Authority reports nearly 300 West Bank Palestinian fatalities, with the majority being participants in clashes during raids by Israeli forces.

Additional Incident:

An encounter near the West Bank town of Dayr Sharaf saw a Palestinian gunman fatally shot by IDF reservists after opening fire. No Israeli soldiers were injured, though two additional Palestinians received wounds in the event.

This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.