Israeli forces demolished the family homes early on Monday of three Palestinians killed after a deadly attack in east Jerusalem in February, Palestinian security sources and the Israeli army said. The three homes were destroyed in Qabatiya in the northern West Bank, an Israeli army statement said. "Security forces demolished the residences of Ahmed Najeh Ismaeel Naser, Muhammad Ahmed Kmail, and Ahmed Najeh Abu Al-Roub in the village of Qabatiya south of Jenin," a statement said. Exchanges of fire between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians broke out during the demolitions and left two Palestinians wounded, Palestinian security sources said. The three men allegedly attacked Israeli security forces near the Damascus Gate entrance to Jerusalem's Old City on Feb. 3. They allegedly killed 19-year-old Hadar Cohen and seriously wounded another officer before being shot dead by police. The United Nations, which monitors Israeli home demolitions, confirmed the latest demolitions but said the number of family members left homeless was not yet clear. Israel regularly demolishes the family homes of Palestinians in a bid to deter violence, but human rights activists say the policy amounts to collective punishment, forcing relatives to suffer for the acts of others. Meanwhile, Israel on Sunday extended the distance it permits Gaza fishermen to head out to sea along certain parts of the coastline of the enclave, which is run by Hamas. The fishing zone was expanded from six nautical miles (11 km) to nine (16 km) along Gaza's central and southern shores, a step that Israeli authorities said should result in a bigger catch in deeper waters, where fish are more abundant. Israel, citing security concerns that include fears of Hamas weapons smuggling, maintains a naval blockade of Gaza, and the zone will remain at six nautical miles in northern areas near the Israeli border. Palestinians have complained of frequent Israeli interceptions and arrests of fishermen who have strayed from the zone and of the confiscation of their boats and equipment. Nizar Ayyash, chairman of the Gaza fishermen's union, called the expansion insufficient, noting that Israel's interim Oslo peace deals with the Palestinians call for a 20 nautical mile (37 km)zone in the Mediterranean. Hamas, which seized the Gaza Strip in 2007 from the rival Fatah movement, and last fought a war with Israel in 2014, rejects the Oslo accords. Ayyash said there are 4,000 fishermen in Gaza, home to 1.95 million people. — Agencies
