The IDF shut down a pizzeria in the Palestinian town of Huwara overnight Friday that had posted an advertisement mocking a 90-year-old Israeli captive, who was recorded by Hamas terrorists last Saturday holding a weapon and flashing a V sign at their demand. The pizzeria owner was arrested and taken for questioning.
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The remarkably rapid decision to close the pizzeria was made shortly after the advertisement began circulating on Israeli social networks. Over the past year, security forces have primarily employed such measures to promptly seal the homes of terrorists who have carried out attacks that resulted in Israeli casualties.
The pizzeria was sealed off, and its façade was demolished with a bulldozer according to footage circulating online, presumably to facilitate the sealing operation, following an order issued by IDF Central Command Chief Yehuda Fuchs.
The order stated that the decision was made because "the place is used for incitement activity and support for terror operations." Fuchs determined that the place "shall be immediately closed and kept closed," and that "anyone possessing the place shall close it immediately, cease managing it and maintain it while it is closed." The order is valid for a period of five months.
About an hour after the pizzeria was sealed, an apology was published in Hebrew on its official Facebook page. "Hello everyone, we are very sorry about the picture that was posted. Of course, the picture was posted without our knowledge. Someone tried to harm us. We are against harming men and women and just want to earn a living with dignity and live in peace with everyone. We are very sorry to the affected family and other harmed individuals."
The order states that "The Pizzeria" is "Eiffel Bakery and Supermarket," or in Arabic "Makhbaz wa-Subermarket Eifal." The woman in the advertisement is Esther Konio, 90, from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Two of her grandchildren are also currently missing.