UN, European countries call on Israeli occupation to stop houses demolitions in the West Bank

The United Nations and the European members of the Security Council have called on the Israeli occupation to stop demolishing Palestinian houses in the West Bank.

 In a statement at the conclusion of the Security Council session on the Situation in the Middle East, the European members- Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom- voiced their deep concern at the repeated demolitions and confiscation of properties, including EU and donor funded structures, carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities in Humsa Al-Baqai’a area in the Jordan Valley.

These countries also expressed their concern at the impacts of the demolition decisions on the Palestinian community in this area, calling on the occupation to allow full, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to the community in Humsa Al-Baqai’a.

 On his part, the United Nations Envoy to the Middle East Tor Wennesland expressed his concern at the Israeli authorities policy of house demolition and land confiscation. He said that Israel has demolished or confiscated 80 houses in Humsa Al-Baqai’a, pointing out that these decisions have repeatedly caused the displacement of dozens of Palestinians and came in the wake of similar demolitions that occurred last November. 

Wennesland added that “Israel must stop the demolition and confiscation of Palestinian properties throughout the occupied West Bank, including in East Al-Quds, and must allow the Palestinians to develop their areas and must build houses for the Palestinians”.

Hamda Mustafa