European Delegation: Khan Al-Ahmar’s Demolition is War Crime

Occupied Jerusalem, MINA – European delegation for relations with Palestine visited Khan al-Ahmar village on Wednesday and warned that its demolition could be considered a war crime.

The European delegation, chaired by Neoklis Sylikiotis, met with village residents and activists who have been keeping a vigil at the village to fend off Israeli demolition and expressed their total support in face of Israel deportation plans, PIC reported.

Sylikiotis said the European Parliament (EP) will continue to oppose demolition of Khan al-Ahmar and other Bedouin communities in the area, all facing eviction from their land and displacement.

We totally support the Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice and for self determination and oppose at the same time the Israeli occupation and apartheid, he said.

He pointed out that the EP will actively work to defend Khan al-Ahmar, stressing that forceful deportation of people under occupation is a serious violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and is considered a war crime.

He stressed that the EU is opposed to settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territories and supports the two-state solution.

For his part, Walid Assaf, head of the Wall and Settlements Resistance Commission, said Israel was committing a war crime against the Palestinian people in Khan al-Ahmar by displacing them in order to build a settlement on their land that would end any chance of having a contiguous Palestinian state.

He urged the Europeans to play a bigger role in defending Palestinian rights in these difficult times.(R/R04/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)