Israeli forces demolished the family homes early on Monday of three Palestinians killed after a deadly attack in the occupied 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 February 3 using rifles, knives and pipe bombs.

They 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 Palestinian attackers, but human rights activists stress the policy amounts to collective punishment, forcing relatives to suffer for the acts of others.

Since October, Israel killed about 200 Palestinians in a deadly use of force against their protests in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Also 28 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese were killed.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online

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