Diplomatic missions called on Israel to stop all seizures and demolitions in the occupied West Bank, to return or compensate for donor-funded, demolished or dismantled humanitarian facilities, and to ensure unhindered humanitarian access.
This came in a statement issued by the missions, today, Friday, which include: members of the consulates general of Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and the representative offices of: Denmark, Finland, Germany, and Ireland, in addition to the European Union representative office in the West Bank. and the Gaza Strip.
The missions called on “Israel, as the occupying power, to stop all confiscations and demolitions, and to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.”
It called on “Israel to return or compensate for all humanitarian materials funded by the donor coalition, as the total value of donor-funded materials that have been demolished, dismantled or confiscated since 2015 is estimated at about 1,291,000 euros.”
The missions strongly condemned the “recent demolition of the donor-funded school in Jubbet al-Dhib,” expressing “grave concern about the threat to demolish another 57 schools in the West Bank. The congregation has been forced to abandon their lands due to settler violence and harsh restrictions.”
It also expressed its concern “about the issue of the planned forcible transfer of more than 1,100 affected Palestinians, currently residing in Masafer Yatta, as well as the possibility of the imminent demolition of the village of Al-Khan Al-Ahmar, and the possibility of the forcible transfer of 48 Palestinian families living there,” affirming “the prohibition of forced transfer in international humanitarian law.” “.
The diplomatic missions condemned “settler violence in the strongest terms,” speaking of “Israel’s failure to protect Palestinians and prosecute violent settlers.”
The missions – which were “disturbed by the recent events in Hawara, Cyrenaica and elsewhere” – stressed their “concern about the statements, which could incite further violence,” stressing that “partners on the ground consider that settlement expansion has led to an increase in settler violence.”
It also reaffirmed that “the settlements are illegal under international law,” calling on Israel “to stop the policy of settlement expansion and depriving the Palestinians of development in the occupied West Bank.”
