Belgium to summon Israeli envoy over destruction of aid agency office in Gaza

Brussels (Quds News Network) — Belgium has taken a strong stance against Israel’s recent destruction of the office building housing the Belgian Agency for Development Cooperation (Enabel) in Gaza, declaring its intent to summon the Israeli ambassador to the country.

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib announced the decision in a tweet on X, adding that “targeting civilian buildings is unacceptable.”

Enabel’s director, Jan Van Wetter, expressed shock at the destruction of the agency’s offices, emphasizing Enabel’s dedication to the public good within the framework of international humanitarian law.

Van Wetter, in a statement on his X account, included two poignant photos — one depicting the building before the Israeli bombing and the other showcasing the grim aftermath of a pile of rubble.

The Israeli military’s persistent targeting of residential and civilian structures has resulted in dire consequences for Gaza’s infrastructure. The United Nations reports that over 60% of Gaza’s housing units have been destroyed or damaged, creating an estimated 8,000,000 metric tons of debris that is anticipated to take three years to clear.

A recent report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) highlighted the extensive destruction, revealing that 37,379 buildings, equivalent to 18% of all structures in Gaza, were destroyed during the Israeli military operation in November.

Satellite data, as shared by Rami Al-Azza, a co-author of the report, indicates a further escalation in destruction, with 50% of buildings in Gaza now reported as damaged or destroyed.

Notably, the agency’s offices are located in a building on Victor Hugo Street in the central Al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City.