Luxembourg Ministers Denounce Israel's Demolition Activities in Occupied West Bank

Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, and Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Franz Fayot, have issued a joint statement on demolitions by Iraeli forces in the occupied West Bank.

According to international reports, around 60 Palestinians have been displaced from their homes in Humsa Al Bqai'a and surrounding areas and had their belongings taken or destroyed by Israeli forces since 1 February 2021.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Luxembourg Ministers Jean Asselborn and Franz Fayot expressed their "profound shock and strong condemnation" of Israel's recent demolition activites in the occupied West Bank. The ministers noted that: "At least 11 Palestinian families, including 41 children, have been left homeless or were displaced so far as a result of these actions". They particularly condemned the ongoing demolitions of structures "provided by the international community as humanitarian assistance following a first mass demolition by Israeli forces on 3 November 2020".

The ministers addeed that: "This destruction of private property is yet another gross violation of Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law, notably the Fourth Geneva Convention". They described recent events as "a direct attack on the dignity and livelihood of the Palestinian people", which in turn "creates a highly coercive environment which may amount to forced displacement".

Ministers Jean Asselborn and Franz Fayot concluded by appealing once again to the Israeli authorities to "immediately cease this policy of demolition and displacement" and to "facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid to vulnerable communities living under their occupation".