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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday demolished the home of a Palestinian terrorist involved in the deadly attack that killed Israeli woman Tzeela Gez and her unborn son earlier this year.
According to the military, troops from the Ephraim Brigade carried out the demolition in the West Bank town of Burkin, near Jenin. The home belonged to terrorist Jamil Samara, who assisted in the May 14 attack carried out by Na’al Samara, a member of the same terror cell.
Na’al Samara was killed by Israeli forces shortly after the attack, and the cell was later dismantled through a joint investigation by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), the IDF, and the Israel Police.
The investigation revealed that the group was responsible for three additional attacks, including a shooting in Ariel in March. Israeli authorities said the demolition was part of ongoing efforts to deter future acts of terrorism in the region.
The fatal shooting occurred as Gez and her husband, Hananel, were driving along Route 446 toward a hospital for the birth of their child. Terrorists opened fire on their vehicle, critically wounding the 32-year-old therapist, who was eight months pregnant at the time.
Gez was evacuated unconscious to Rabin Medical Center–Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva, where doctors performed an emergency C-section in a desperate attempt to save the baby. The child, named Ravid Haim, was delivered but remained in critical condition.
Despite intensive care, Gez succumbed to her wounds shortly after the delivery, and two weeks later, baby Ravid also passed away at Schneider Children’s Medical Center. Their deaths deeply moved communities across Israel, with widespread tributes pouring in for the family.
Gez, described by friends and colleagues as a “kind and devoted therapist,” was the mother of three young children. Her killing reignited public debate over Israel’s home demolition policy, which the government defends as a deterrent, while critics argue it punishes families of attackers.
The IDF confirmed that the operation was completed “without incident” and that troops returned safely. Meanwhile, the military vowed to continue targeting those responsible for terror attacks in the West Bank and to “hold accountable anyone who assists in acts of murder against Israeli civilians.”
The demolition marks another chapter in Israel’s ongoing efforts to curb terror activity emanating from the Jenin area, which has seen a surge in violence over the past year.
Israeli security officials reiterated that the joint intelligence cooperation between the Shin Bet, IDF, and police remains vital in dismantling terror networks and preventing future attacks on Israeli civilians.