Israel bulldozes West Bank pizzeria that used image of elderly hostage in advertisement
The Eiffel Bakery and Supermarket apologized on Facebook, claiming that it didn't know who made the image
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A Palestinian pizzeria that used a picture of a kidnapped grandmother in a mocking advertisement was destroyed by Israeli settlers.
A video taken in Huwara, a town in the West Bank, showed a bulldozer ramming into the structure and tearing it apart while reversing.
Israel Defense Forces demolish pizza parlor
💥 The Israel Defense Forces destroyed an Arab pizzeria in Hawara, which in its advertisements mockingly included the photo of an elderly Israeli Holocaust survivor held hostage by Hamas. pic.twitter.com/rkVw7bntuy
— New world news (@Newworldnewsd) October 13, 2023
The central command of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) gave the order to demolish the pizza parlor. With a picture of the elderly woman next to a picture of a pizza, the advertisement seemed to mock the fact that she had been abducted by terrorists a week earlier during Hamas' attack on Israel.
The restaurant's owner allegedly faced charges of throwing a rock at an Israeli settler before the charges were later dropped.
Eiffel Bakery and Supermarket's apology
The Eiffel Bakery and Supermarket apologized on Facebook, claiming that it was unaware of the author of the image.
The post read: "We are very sorry for the picture that was uploaded. Of course, the image did not occur to us. Someone tried to hurt us. We are against harming people and women and just want to make a living with dignity and live in peace with everyone."
The post adds, "We are very sorry to the members of the affected family and the other people who were affected," as reported by Insider.
Hamas' surprise attack on Israel
Israel reported that when Hamas launched its surprise attack on October 7, more than 150 people were captured. Horrific video showed women being herded into cars while bruised and bloodied, frequently with their hands bound behind their backs.
Images showed families being forced into trucks and Israeli pensioners being transported into the Gaza Strip on golf carts. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza over the past 24 hours have claimed the lives of nine of the captives from a week ago, according to the armed wing of the Hamas movement.
Without providing further details, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades reported that at least five Israelis and four foreigners had been killed during Israeli "strikes on locations where the prisoners were held," as reported by Daily Mail.
With the most recent deaths, there are now 22 total fatalities among the hostages taken by Hamas gunmen on October 7. This week, the military wing warned that "every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages."
As the army continued to strike Gaza and prepared for a possible ground invasion aimed at destroying the militant movement, Hamas' leader has accused Israel of "war crimes."
