Details - Blowing up the home of martyr Mohammad Shihab in the town of al-Ram
On Tuesday morning, Israeli occupation forces blew up the home of the family of martyr Mohammad Shihab in the town of al-Ram, north of Jerusalem, causing widespread destruction to surrounding homes and property.
The raid began at midnight, with large forces supported by the explosives unit, which raided the town through its main entrances before deploying to the neighborhoods of al-Ram and the Dahiyet al-Barid. The forces stormed the home of martyr Shihab and forced the residents of neighboring homes to evacuate under threat. They also carried out scattered arrests of more than 20 young men and boys, in addition to detentions and field investigations.
Over the course of five hours, the explosives unit planted explosive devices inside the second floor of the house, and the explosion occurred at 6:00 AM, causing a massive explosion that was heard in neighboring neighborhoods and areas.
Mohammad Shihab was martyred on July 14, 2024, after carrying out a car-ramming attack near the Al-Ramla area, killing an officer and wounding others. The occupation authorities issued a decision to demolish the house at the beginning of this year, while the family has been prevented from using it since their son's martyrdom.
The explosion damaged approximately ten neighboring homes, shattering their windows and doors. Several trees were uprooted, and rocks were scattered, blocking main passageways between homes. Closed parking lots housing vehicles and motorcycles were also damaged, as were solar panels and water tanks.
A night in the open air
Muhannad Halwani, a neighborhood resident, recounted that the occupation forces stormed his family's building opposite the home of the martyr Shihab, forcing his father (80 years old) and mother (70 years old) to leave amid difficult circumstances. They were forced to move to the town of Kufor Aqab.
Halwani said: "The entire neighborhood was evacuated of its residents. Hours after the forces withdrew, when we returned, rocks filled the roofs, courtyards, and front doors of the houses. Our family's building was covered with rocks on the roof, front yard, and front door. Many neighboring homes were also damaged."
Samer Abdel-Afou Ayesh, a young man, said that the forces stormed his home and demanded that his family members leave "for their protection." He complied and closed the doors as requested.
He added: "A few minutes after we left, I remembered I had forgotten my medication. I returned home and was surprised to find its doors smashed open and about nine soldiers inside. When I objected to their presence, one of them said, 'Get out now. If you have any objections, go and file a complaint.'"
He said: "Children, women, young people, and the elderly all spent the night in the streets or in mosques. There was nowhere else to go, especially since the main roads were closed, preventing us from leaving the area."
He added: "There was a closed parking lot under the building where motorcycles were parked, all of which were damaged by the explosion. Other homes also sustained significant damage due to the force of the blast."
Bombings of the homes of Jerusalemite martyrs and prisoners
This bombing is part of a campaign targeting the homes of Jerusalemite martyrs and prisoners. The occupation forces had previously bombed several homes during the months of the war:
- November 8, 2023: Bombing of the family home of child prisoner Mohammad Zalbani in Shu’fat refugee camp (sentenced to 18 years in prison).
- November 15, 2023: Demolition of the home of martyr Khairi Alqam in the Ras al-Amoud neighborhood of Silwan (his body is still being detained).
- January 9, 2024: Bombing of the homes of the martyred brothers Murad and Ibrahim Nimer in Sur Baher (their bodies are being detained).
- April 16, 2024: Bombing of the home of Khaled Muhtaseb in Beit Hanina, sealing off some of its rooms with cement (his body is being detained).
- May 9, 2024: Bombing of the home of martyr Fadi Jamjoum in Shu’fat refugee camp (his body is being detained).
