Belgium’s Foreign Minister, Hadja Lahbib, took to social media on Thursday to announce that the offices of the Belgian development agency, Enabel, in Gaza had been destroyed due to bombing.
Lahbib condemned the targeting of civilian buildings as “unacceptable” and added that she, along with the Belgian Minister of Development Cooperation, Caroline Gennez, would summon the Israeli ambassador “to clarify everything.”
Lahbib’s post was accompanied by images that seemingly showed the devastated office building in Gaza.
According to Enabel’s website, the agency’s primary mission is “to implement the priorities of Belgian governmental cooperation policy and to promote sustainable international development.”
Israel has yet to comment on the minister’s statement.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) had previously reported at the end of last month that a building housing displaced people was bombed in Khan Younis, resulting in at least 9 deaths and 75 injuries.
Thomas White, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the Near East, stated on the platform “X” (formerly Twitter) at the time: “Fires broke out in the buildings and there were numerous casualties. Safe access to and from the center was blocked for two days. People are trapped.”
Over 60 UNRWA facilities, mostly schools sheltering thousands of civilians, have sustained collateral or direct damage, according to the organization. It added that 70% of the damaged facilities were located in the southern Gaza Valley, including central and southern areas such as Rafah and Khan Younis.
This escalation in Gaza highlights the ongoing conflict and the impact on civilian and humanitarian infrastructure, raising international concerns and prompting diplomatic responses from affected countries like Belgium.
