As “racist collective punishment that encourages further escalation and violence,” the Palestinian Authority denounced the actions.
Following a string of Palestinian attacks in Israeli-occupied territory on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “strengthen” Israeli settlements and arm countless Israelis.
Following two separate attacks against Israelis since Friday, the Israeli security cabinet approved a number of contentious measures Netanyahu proposed the day before on Sunday.
The home of Khairy Alqam, a Palestinian who on Friday ambushed seven Israelis outside a synagogue in the settlement of Neve Yaakov in occupied East Jerusalem, was sealed by Israeli authorities earlier on Sunday.
The Alqam family home is anticipated to be destroyed by Israeli forces. Israeli forces were seen on the property after Palestinians had cleared out their belongings and blocked the property’s entrances, according to witnesses. Since the incident, 42 members of Alqam’s family have been detained by security personnel.
Palestinians who kill Israelis regularly have their homes destroyed by Israel.
After Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians in the West Bank city of Jenin and a tenth died on Sunday from his wounds, the attacks on Israelis follow. On Sunday, an Israeli settler killed another Palestinian in the West Bank. This brings the total number of Palestinians killed by Israelis this year to 32.
The new far-right Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu has condoned the violence, which was stoked by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, two ultranationalist cabinet ministers.
In 2022, Israeli attacks on the occupied territories claimed the lives of at least 220 people, including 48 children. 53 people died in the Gaza Strip, while 167 people died in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Netanyahu stated that he would “enable thousands of additional citizens to carry weapons” in spite of his request that the general public consent to the investigations carried out by security forces.
Concerns have been raised that Netanyahu’s announcement will exacerbate the escalating violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
Allowing killers
Additionally, a number of measures were approved by Israel’s security cabinet, including plans to confiscate Palestinian weapons, strengthen military and police forces, and revoke Israeli identity cards for “families of terrorists that support terrorists.”
The measures were denounced by the Palestinian Authority as “racist collective punishment that incite further escalation and violence.”
Israelis have also been criticizing Netanyahu more and more. On Saturday night, thousands of people rallied in Tel Aviv against his judicial reforms, which aim to give politicians more control over the Supreme Court.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu.
A spokesperson for the State Department stated, “The Secretary will underscore the urgent need for the parties to take steps to de-escalate tensions in order to put an end to the cycle of violence that has claimed too many innocents’ lives.” This statement was made in conjunction with leaders from both Israel and Palestine.
