Israeli forces early Wednesday raided and took measurements of homes belonging to two Palestinian teens killed after reportedly stabbing an Israeli soldier last month, local sources said. Hussam al-Jaabari, 17, and Bashar al-Jaabari, 15, were shot dead after the soldier was stabbed and injured at a military checkpoint in Hebron's Old City on Oct. 20. Israeli officials have stepped up a policy of punitive home demolitions -- considered illegal collective punishment by international rights groups -- carried out on the residences of Palestinians who attacked or attempted to attack Israeli military or civilians. Measurements like those taken Wednesday are typically taken prior to the demolition of a home. Several homes in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank have been demolished this month, displacing family members and causing severe structural damage to nearby homes. Also Wednesday, Israeli forces detained more than seven Palestinians during ongoing search and detention raids in the Hebron district, security and local sources said. Security sources told Ma'an that the forces stormed the town of Beit Awwa and detained Muhammad Yasser Masalmeh, Qussai Hani Masalmeh and Hamdi Qassem Masalmeh. A former prisoner, Hamzeh Youssef Zamaareh, was detained in Halhul, and Muhammad Kassab Abu Dayyeh, 16, and Jamal Ali Adi, 17, were detained after Israeli forces raided their homes in Beit Ummar. Locals told Ma'an that eight-year-old Youssef Ahmad Mahmoud al-Alami, who was detained by Israeli soldiers late Tuesday, was released after being held for several hours. In the city of Hebron, Israeli forces detained Nafeth Muhammad al-Muhtaseb, 28, after raiding his home. An Israeli army spokesperson was able to confirm five Palestinians detained early Wednesday in the Hebron area. The spokesperson told Ma'an that all five were detained for involvement in "illegal activity." Arrest raids by Israeli forces -- this year's weekly average numbering over 80 according to UN documentation -- have increased since the beginning of last month, and have targeted the Hebron district in particular. Hebron grew as the center of recent violence in the occupied Palestinian territory, with over 30 Palestinians killed in the district since Oct. 1. Many were shot dead during alleged, attempted, and actual attacks on Israeli military and civilians. Palestinian residents of the district have come under wide-scale measures implemented by Israeli authorities since, including road closures, sealing entrances of towns and villages, home demolitions, and invasive and humiliating security checks on individuals.
