BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgium said on Friday it would summon Israel’s ambassador to raise the issue of compensation after the bombing of the Belgian Development Agency building in Gaza City.
Foreign Minister Hajja Rabib posted on social media
Belgium’s Ministry for Development and Cooperation said it had no knowledge of civilian casualties and said the building it shared with Handicap International was believed to be empty at the time of the bombing. The ministry said the Israeli ambassador had promised an investigation.
“Belgium will put the issue of compensation for infrastructure damaged by projects financed by the EU and its member states back on the agenda of the next European talks,” the foreign ministry added in a statement.
It is not clear when the building was bombed. The spokesperson said Belgium learned of the incident on Thursday night and suspected that the incident took place on Wednesday.
war in Israel and Gaza
The Foreign Office renewed its call for the continuation of the humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the resumption of the peace process, and political negotiations that could lead to a two-state solution as “the only way out of this conflict”.
Belgium has previously criticized Israel’s handling of the conflict.
(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
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