Israel Blows Up Home of Palestinian Prisoner's Family

Ramallah, Occupied West Bank, Palestine — At dawn on Thursday, June 8, Israeli forces blew up the house of Palestinian prisoner Islam Froukh’s family in the ‘old city’ section of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Several Palestinians were shot, including a journalist, during the Israeli military incursion into the city that started on Wednesday night.

Arrested in December by Israeli forces, Froukh, who holds a Jerusalem ID, was accused of bombing bus stops in Jerusalem in November 2022. The bombs killed two people and injured over a dozen. Froukh’s parents’ home in the old city district of Ramallah was blown up by Israel as part of their controversial collective punishment policy despite the family attempting to stop the demolition in the courts.

Froukh’s family, including his parents, siblings and others, lived on the second floor of a four-story residential building. Residents of the neighborhood resisted the military movements into the city. Rocks were thrown with frequency, fireworks were shot and some molotov cocktails were lobbed at the Israeli military vehicles.

It’s raining molotovs in Ramallah🍾

Violent confrontations between Palestinian Youth and Israeli occupation forces continue pic.twitter.com/LmCUqZ4Q22
— Younis | يونس (@ytirawi) June 7, 2023

A number of citizens were shot, including two photojournalists. Press crews present to cover the raid were targeted with bullets and tear gas, as a result of which the photojournalist, Momen Samreen, was shot in the head by a rubber bullet and was taken to the hospital.

The Ministry of Health stated that six injuries arrived at the Palestine Medical Complex, one of which was moderately injured by live bullets in their side, two minor injuries with live bullets in the thigh and foot, a minor injury with rubber-coated metal bullets in the hand, and two minor injuries as a result of inhaling toxic tear gas.

The Israeli occupation demolished and seized 42 buildings in Jerusalem and Area C in the occupied West Bank, between May 2 and May 15. The demolitions resulted in the displacement of 50 Palestinians, including 23 children, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Zainab Froukh, the mother of Islam Froukh said that despite her home being demolished, she is steadfast along the rest of her Palestinian neighbors and she firmly stated “they will not shake us and we will not ‘get out’ of this country.”

Islam’s uncle Youssef Froukh said Israeli forces allowed them to leave their home and get to safety for the controlled demolition of their second-floor residence.