Nablus: In the occupied West Bank, which has been the scene of months of violence, Israel's army reported on Tuesday that it had destroyed the home of a Palestinian suspect accused of killing a soldier and his brother.

The military reported clashes during the overnight operation to demolish Abdel-Fatah Khroushah's home in Askar camp, in the city of Nablus. It claimed in a statement that several "violent riots were instigated during the operation, including rock throwing and tyre burning."

Additionally, explosive devices and live fire were fired at the forces, who responded by using riot dispersal techniques.

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Halel Menachem Yaniv and his brother Yagel Yaakov Yaniv were shot and killed in February while travelling through the West Bank town of Hawara, according to the army's accusation against Khroushah.

The following month, 49-year-old Khroushah was killed by Israeli forces during a raid.
Israeli forces reportedly entered Nablus during the night to destroy Khroushah's third-floor home, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

According to witnesses who spoke to AFP, soldiers engaged in combat with armed Palestinians as they entered the city. Six Palestinians, including one by live ammunition, were injured, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

Israel frequently destroys the homes of Palestinians it holds responsible for fatal attacks against Israelis, claiming that doing so serves as a deterrent. Human rights advocates claim that the practise, which has the potential to make non-combatants, including children, homeless, amounts to collective punishment.

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Israel has increased military operations in the northern West Bank, a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups, where deadly violence has been raging since early last year. Both Israelis and Jewish settlers have been attacked in the area, as have Palestinian communities.

According to an AFP count compiled from official sources on both sides, violence related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has killed at least 212 Palestinians, 28 Israelis, one Ukrainian, and one Italian this year.

On the Palestinian side, they include both civilians and combatants, while on the Israeli side, three Arab minorities are represented. Since 1967, Israel has controlled the West Bank.

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With the exception of east Jerusalem, there are nearly three million Palestinians living there, along with about 490,000 Israelis who reside in settlements that are deemed illegal by international law.