Israelis kill Hamas member, raze his home in West Bank

Israeli troops have attacked the residence of a Hamas member in a village in southern occupied West Bank, killing him and razing his house to the ground.

The raid saw Israeli soldiers, police personnel, and members of Shin Bet spy agency attacking the house in Surif, north of al-Khalil (Hebron) on Tuesday, the Palestinian News Agency Wafa reported.

The victim has been identified as 29-year-old Muhammad al-Fakih, whom Hamas has acknowledged as belonging to the movement.

The Israeli forces also arrested three other Palestinians, including Fakih’s brother, during the attack which reportedly lasted for seven hours.

The Israeli military, meanwhile, alleged that the attack had targeted those responsible for the July 1 killing of rabbi Miki Mark in the West Bank.

Before launching the Tuesday raid, the military ordered a power cut to be imposed on the village.

The attack, in which at least 40 military vehicles were involved, saw the Israeli forces firing at least one anti-tank missile at the house.

The destruction of the house was followed by clashes with local Palestinians, during which six Palestinians were injured.

The occupied Palestinian territories have been the scene of heightened tensions since August 2015, when Israel imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem al-Quds.

Palestinians say the Tel Aviv regime seeks to change the status quo of the sacred site.

More than 220 Palestinians have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces in the tensions since the beginning of last October.