In a brazen display of collective punishment, Israeli forces demolished the apartment building where over three decades of Palestinian lives were crammed into one space. The home belonged to Abdul Karim Sanoubar, a 30-year-old suspect accused of conspiring to perpetrate bombings in Israel. However, no one was injured or killed as the explosives went off while the buses were parked.
Sanoubar's family has been under immense pressure since his arrest last July. His father, Amer, who is 61, said that the destruction of his home was part of a long-running campaign of "collective punishment" against his family. The Israeli authorities have detained Sanoubar, as well as three of his brothers and other relatives, under Israel's system of administrative detention, which allows prisoners to be jailed indefinitely without trial.
The demolition notice arrived in April, giving the family 72 hours to file an objection, which was rejected by the courts. The sound of military vehicles has been all that awaits the Sanoubar family since then. Amer condemned Israel's destruction of a building "when the people inside have nothing to do with any crime" as an "act of terrorism" against his family.
"It is meant as a deterrent action against the entire Palestinian people," he said, gesturing wildly at the dusty ruins of his lifelong home. The remains of Sanoubar's top-floor bedroom were visible from the roof, including the words "We fight so we can live" emblazoned on the wall.
The family received just two minutes to leave their homes before the demolition began. The apartment block was reduced to rubble in an explosion that sent huge clouds of dust and smoke billowing out of its floors. No one was injured or killed, but the devastation has left a lasting impact on the Sanoubar family.
Sanoubar's uncle, Moayed, described Israel's destruction as "an act of terrorism" against his family. "We're not the terrorists; they are," he told Al Jazeera. "This is completely unjust."
The demolition of the apartment building serves as another example of Israel's punitive approach to dealing with Palestinians accused of crimes. The practice has been widely condemned by human rights groups, who argue that it amounts to collective punishment and is against international law.
As the Sanoubar family struggles to come to terms with their loss, they are left wondering when they will be able to return home or rebuild what has been destroyed.
Sanoubar's family has been under immense pressure since his arrest last July. His father, Amer, who is 61, said that the destruction of his home was part of a long-running campaign of "collective punishment" against his family. The Israeli authorities have detained Sanoubar, as well as three of his brothers and other relatives, under Israel's system of administrative detention, which allows prisoners to be jailed indefinitely without trial.
The demolition notice arrived in April, giving the family 72 hours to file an objection, which was rejected by the courts. The sound of military vehicles has been all that awaits the Sanoubar family since then. Amer condemned Israel's destruction of a building "when the people inside have nothing to do with any crime" as an "act of terrorism" against his family.
"It is meant as a deterrent action against the entire Palestinian people," he said, gesturing wildly at the dusty ruins of his lifelong home. The remains of Sanoubar's top-floor bedroom were visible from the roof, including the words "We fight so we can live" emblazoned on the wall.
The family received just two minutes to leave their homes before the demolition began. The apartment block was reduced to rubble in an explosion that sent huge clouds of dust and smoke billowing out of its floors. No one was injured or killed, but the devastation has left a lasting impact on the Sanoubar family.
Sanoubar's uncle, Moayed, described Israel's destruction as "an act of terrorism" against his family. "We're not the terrorists; they are," he told Al Jazeera. "This is completely unjust."
The demolition of the apartment building serves as another example of Israel's punitive approach to dealing with Palestinians accused of crimes. The practice has been widely condemned by human rights groups, who argue that it amounts to collective punishment and is against international law.
As the Sanoubar family struggles to come to terms with their loss, they are left wondering when they will be able to return home or rebuild what has been destroyed.
This whole situation is just heartbreaking... I mean, can you even imagine having your entire life's work and sense of security torn apart in an instant? It's like, the Israeli government is literally taking away their identity, you know? Like, they're punishing Abdul Karim and his family for something that might not be even proven. 
And the fact that his family has been under pressure since he was arrested last July just shows how cruel this system can be.
We gotta try to see things from different perspectives and understand where people are coming from.
We need to think about how we can create more empathy and understanding in the world, especially when it comes to conflicts and issues like this. 
. Demolishing someone's home because of a family member who might be suspected of being involved in something doesn't seem right to me 
. And what really gets my blood boiling is that it's not even like they were at home when it happened... I mean, what kind of punishment is this? 
news... demolishing an entire apartment building as punishment for one person's alleged actions? It just feels like such a massive overreaction 
. We need to keep raising awareness and advocating for human rights everywhere... especially when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 
.
and it's not like they're asking for much, just a place to call home 
how are they supposed to rebuild their lives now? its not fair to punish an entire family for one person's actions... i feel bad for the dad Amer he sounds really upset 
what do you guys think about this situation? should israel be doing this kind of thing??
. the fact that these families are being torn apart like this... it's just heartbreaking 
. we need to talk about accountability here, not just condemn Israel for being cruel. what's the real motive behind all this? is it really about security or is there something more sinister at play? 
Can't believe this is happening again! It's like Israel's just trying to create more victims 
. And that "collective punishment" thing? Sounds like an excuse for them to keep the Palestinian people under control 
. The fact that they gave them just two minutes to leave and then just blew it up? That's just insane! 
What about due process, I guess? It's all just a big smokescreen while they're trying to maintain their grip on power 
. And have you seen the words "We fight so we can live" on that wall? 
.