Israel demolishes home of Palestinian murder accused

ISRAELI troops on Monday blew up the home of a Palestinian accused of killing a BritishIsraeli woman and her two daughters in the occupied West Bank last year.

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The apartment of Moaz al-Masry, who was killed by Israeli forces following the April 7 attack, was demolished in the early hours, Palestinian witnesses and the Israeli military said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said their medics treated about 15 people after Israeli forces fired tear gas during the raid on the West Bank city of Nablus. Masry, along with two other attackers, was accused of shooting dead Israeli settler Leah Dee and her daughters Maia and Rina as they were driving near Hamra in the Jordan Valley. Following a manhunt, the assailants were killed in a military raid on Nablus in May. Troops overnight into Monday stormed the Al-Makhfiya neighbourhood in Nablus and surrounded Masry's house, said a witness.

Israel routinely demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks, arguing that such measures act as a deterrent, while critics say it amounts to collective punishment. According to Palestinian health ministry, 16-year-old Mustafa Abu Shalbak was shot before dawn on Monday by Israeli forces near Ramallah.