The EU Heads of Missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah today visited Khan al Ahmar, adjacent to East Jerusalem, composed of five Bedouin communities, where they met with community leaders and humanitarian organisations that deliver aid to the community and visited structures threatened with demolition, including an EU-funded school.
Two weeks ago, Israeli officials served almost all structures in one of the communities in Khan al Ahmar (Abu al Helu) with military “stop work” orders. This underscores the threat of demolition and displacement of the community. Abu al Helu is home to 140 Palestinian refugees who have been living in the community since the 1950s.
One of the structures affected is a school funded by the EU and EU Member States that provides around 170 children from the area with education. A demolition of the school would severely impact negatively on Palestinian children’s right to education.
The EU Heads of Mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah called upon Israel not to carry out demolitions in the said community. Displacing the community would be in contravention with Israel’s obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law.
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