Germany, Britain Condemn Israeli Demolition of Palestine Homes
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Germany and Britain added their voices to growing international condemnation of Israel over the demolition of Palestinian homes near occupied Jerusalem (al-Quds), saying the destruction was “particularly egregious.”
The five European Union members of the UN Security Council, which also includes France, Belgium and Poland, released a statement following a council meeting on the Middle East.
“We as member states of the European Union strongly condemn the demolition by Israel of Palestinian buildings in the district of Wadi al-Hummus, in the southeast of Jerusalem,” they said, Reuters reported.
“In all but the most exceptional of circumstances, demolition in occupied territories is contrary to International Humanitarian Law and to UNSC resolutions,” the statement added.
The EU countries said demolitions caused “unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and is harmful to the peace process.”
Israel said Tuesday that a total of 12 Palestinian buildings it considered illegally constructed were demolished.
The five EU countries, plus Estonia, which is a forthcoming EU member of the Security Council, described the demolitions as “particularly egregious.” They noted that several of the buildings were located in areas meant to be under Palestinian Authority civilian control under the Oslo accords of the 1990s. “They set a dangerous precedent that directly jeopardizes the two-state solution,” the statement read.
A preliminary assessment by the UN found that 24 people were displaced in Monday’s destruction.
