Israeli forces target family of suspect in alleged car ramming incident

Palestine

Published: 2018-03-17 13:53

Last Updated: 2024-04-26 01:25


The suspect in the incident, Alaa Qabaha. (SafaNewsAgency)
The suspect in the incident, Alaa Qabaha. (SafaNewsAgency)

A large unit from the Israeli army broke into several homes in Barta’a, southeast of Jenin in the West Bank, that belong to the family of 26-year-old Alaa Qabaha, Wafa news agency reported, citing local sources.

Alaa was arrested on Friday after allegdely ramming his car into a military checkpoint in the Israeli settlement of Mevo Dothan in Jenin, killing two Israeli soldiers and injuring two others.

One of the homes belonged to photojournalist Baha Qabaha, whose press card was seized by the army. During the raids, the army also arrested Baha and Alaa’s brother Ashraf, a former detainee in an Israeli prison. He was detained and interrogated for several hours before being released, according to Wafa.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said that the attack marked 100 days since Trump declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, however, there is no confirmation as to whether Alaa’s car drove into the checkpoint intentionally or accidentally.

The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine referred to the operation as an act of “self-defence,” and said that “Palestinian people have the right to engage in actions that target Israeli soldiers and settlers.”