The IDF demolished the home of the terrorist who killed brothers Hallel and Yagel Yaniv in February, the IDF Spokespersons Unit announced early Tuesday morning.
The home of terrorist Khaled Harusha was located in the Askar refugee camp on the outskirts of Nablus in the West Bank. The demolition order for the home was issued two and a half months ago.
صور| آثار الدمار والخراب الذي خلّفه جيش الاحتلال بعد تفجير منزل عبد الفتاح خروشة في مخيم عسكر بنابلس. pic.twitter.com/sQIiES2CLI
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) August 8, 2023
Armed clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli forces during the IDF's efforts to demolish the structure, according to Palestinian reports.
Hallel and Yaniv’s parents, Esti and Shalom, responded to the demolition on Tuesday, telling Army Radio “the demolition of the house won’t return our children, but it will show that there is law and there is justice, and those who rise up against us must know that they will pay a heavy price for their criminal actions. There is punishment, there is deterrence, and for us there is also revenge.”
The Yaniv brothers were murdered half a year ago in Huwara. The two men were on their way to their yeshivas when Harusha rammed into their car in Huwara and began firing.
Hallel and Yagel were 22 and 19 at the time of their murder respectively. Yagel was supposed to celebrate his 20th birthday two weeks after the attack. The brothers were from the Har Bracha settlement in Samaria and were laid to rest at the Mt. Herzl military cemetery.
Hours after the attack, large-scale riots began that included the torching of houses and vehicles by settlers in Huwara. Security officials in Israel confirmed that dozens of Palestinians were injured in the various incidents.
Donating their corneas
After their deaths, the brothers' corneas were donated to four Israelis at Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, giving eyesight to four other people.
Their parents signed organ donor cards prior to the attack, which allowed their corneas to be given to patients who needed them immediately after the attack.
Tzvi Joffre and Walla contributed to this report.