Belgium requested the Israeli authorities to pay compensation for the demolition of Palestinian buildings that were built with Belgian support, as part of the humanitarian aid that is being carried out in the West Bank.
In a press release issued by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she expressed her concern about the alarming increase in the number of demolitions and seizures by the Israeli authorities of buildings and humanitarian projects in Area C in the West Bank.
The ministry said, "Belgium is horrified by the destruction of about 76 homes, facilities and Brixa, in the village of Khirbet Humsa al-Fawqa in the Jordan Valley, and this has a great impact on the local population and on the assistance provided by humanitarian partners."
Belgium called on the Israeli authorities, in accordance with international humanitarian law, to put an end to the demolition of humanitarian aid, affirming its support for these infrastructure projects, because they meet urgent humanitarian needs, which are always implemented in accordance with international humanitarian law.
It also condemned the demolition of four homes in the occupied Palestinian territories in the village of Al-Rukayz, south of Hebron, last month, by the Israeli authorities, as this basic infrastructure was built with Belgian funds, as part of the humanitarian aid implemented by the West Bank Protection Union, and demanded compensation or compensation from Israel. About demolitions.
In its statement, the ministry reiterated that the demolition of infrastructure and housing in the West Bank is inconsistent with international humanitarian law, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel´s obligations as an occupying power and the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
And she continued: Belgium is not the only international donor facing demolition, since 2017, and at the initiative of Belgium, a group of affected partner countries have systematically communicated with the Israeli authorities to demand that they stop the demolitions, repair the damaged projects, or compensate them for damages.
Belgium, in its capacity as a member of the UN Security Council, also expressed its concern about the demolition of schools, affirming the right of Palestinian children like all other children in the world to education, a right guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Belgium also called on the Israeli authorities not to implement the demolition orders for the schools of Ras al-Tin, Jana and Khirbet al-Fakhit, as well as to protect 52 schools in the West Bank that are at risk of demolition.
