The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Monday started the demolition of the family house of the Palestinian martyr Ashraf Na’alweh in Tulkarem in the northern West Bank.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the IOF accompanied by military bulldozers at daybreak stormed Shweika village in Tulkarem surrounded Na’alweh’s building and started the demolition of the first floor.
The PIC reporter said that violent clashes broke out around the building during which the IOF heavily fired teargas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets at Palestinian citizens and journalists.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that four Palestinians suffered breathing difficulties as a result of inhaling teargas while one Palestinian was wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing three Palestinian youths detained by the IOF during the confrontations.
The Israeli occupation authorities have decided to demolish the first and second floors of the building while it was decided not to demolish the third floor which belongs to Ashraf Na’alweh’s brother Amjad who has been detained in Israeli jails for over two months.
Hundreds of Palestinians had gathered after midnight Sunday in the building in an effort to foil the planned demolition after the time limit given by the Israeli army expired.
Palestinian citizens and popular groups in Tulkarem vowed that they will work hard to start the reconstruction of Na’alweh’s home very soon.
Ashraf Na’alweh’s parents and brother have been detained by the Israeli occupation authorities for about two months.
Ashraf Na’alweh 23 was killed on Thursday in an armed clash with the Israeli occupation forces in Askar refugee camp east of Nablus.
Na’alweh on 7 October carried out an anti-occupation shooting attack in Barkan settlement area north of Salfit in which two Israelis were killed and a third injured. Despite the massive Israeli security efforts he managed to escape the scene and disappear for 67 days.
