"I am deeply shocked by the scale of the demolition inflicted by Israeli authorities on eleven families, including 40 children and one elderly person, of the community of Humsa Al Bqai'a (also referred to as Khirbet Hamsa al-Foqa) in the northern Jordan Valley, in the occupied West Bank. In total, 84 structures, including residential and sanitation facilities, as well as water tanks, solar panels and farming equipment, were destroyed on 3 November 2020.
This brutal act, leading to the displacement of 71 individuals, is a gross violation of Israel's obligations under international law, notably the Fourth Geneva Convention and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. I am extremely concerned by the acceleration of demolitions this year, in particular in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As the occupying power, it is Israel's responsibility to protect vulnerable communities, not subject them to violence and forced displacement.
I call once again on Israeli authorities to immediately cease their policy of demolition, displacement and settlement. This appalling behavior represents a direct attack on the dignity and livelihood of the Palestinian people, and undermines the prospects for a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East."
Press release by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs