Baroness Tonge – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel following the September UN OCHA Bulletin report that Israel had demolished a two-storey building in Area A of the West Bank during a search and arrest operation in Jenin refugee camp and damaged an adjacent home, displacing four people.

Baroness Verma

The UK raises concerns about demolitions and displacement with the Government of Israel on a regular basis and at the highest levels. We assess that demolition of Palestinian structures in the Occupied Palestinian Territories by Israel is harmful to the peace process. As of 14 September, in 2015, 393 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished in Area C and a further 56 in East Jerusalem. Demolitions cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and in all but the most limited circumstances are contrary to international humanitarian law.