On July 6, 2017, HaMoked filed three objections against the
intended punitive demolitions of three family homes of Palestinian perpetrators or suspected perpetrators of recent attacks against Israelis. Two of the homes are located in Deir Abu Masha’al and the third is in Silwad, all in Ramallah District.
In
the objections, HaMoked asserted, as before, that the decision to harm innocent people for deterrence reasons – so that others may “behold and beware” – was an unlawful act constituting collective punishment, prohibited under international humanitarian law. HaMoked stressed that the assumed effectiveness of the punitive demolition policy had never been proved and the reality on the ground actually indicated its failure.
In
the objection regarding the home in Silwad, HaMoked noted that there was established information whereby the suspected attacker was suffering from schizophrenia. Therefore, and given the fact the criminal process against him was still in the early stages, it should be determined that the alleged deterrence objective does not exist in this case.
