The representative of the European Union (EU) and heads of its mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah have condemned Israel’s demolition of structures and appropriation of equipment funded by the EU in Masafer Yatta area of the occupied West Bank.
In a statement released on Thursday the EU officials expressed strong concern about the demolition and seizure by the Israeli authorities of several Palestinian-owned structures in four Palestinian communities located in the Masafer Yatta area in Area C of the occupied West Bank on May 2 2018 pointing out that several of these structures were funded by the EU and EU member states.
“More than 40 Palestinian residents of these communities have lost their homes. The seizure of solar energy units as well as water filtration systems deprives them of access to energy and water” their statement said.
They called on the Israeli authorities “to halt demolitions of Palestinian houses and property in accordance with its obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law and to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion of designating land for exclusive Israeli use and of denying Palestinian development.”
They also demanded the Israeli authorities to rebuild the structures in the same place and return the seized items to the communities.
