(JTA) — Israel’s High Court of Justice approved demolition orders for five Palestinian homes, including ones belonging to the family members of three terrorists accused of murdering a husband and wife in front of their young children.
The ruling Thursday voided a temporary injunction issued last month in response to petitions on behalf of the West Bank homeowners, the Times of Israel reported.
In addition to allowing the homes of relatives of the three Hamas members alleged to have killed Eitan and Naama Henkin to be razed, the order approved the demolition of homes of the Palestinians accused of killing Danny Gonen and Malachi Rosenfeld in separate drive-by shootings. All three attacks took place in the West Bank.
The court rejected one demolition order because it would have hurt neighboring tenants in a large apartment building. It also rejected an appeal against the overall use of home demolitions as a means of punishment.
Numerous nonprofits have criticized the practice, saying it is a form of collective punishment, but Israeli government officials argue that it deters terror attacks.
