GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The Hamas Movement has welcomed the European Council’s position against the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling for the stance to be translated into concrete measures that would pressure Israel’s government to halt its violations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.
In a statement on Sunday, Hamas lauded the European Council for warning companies and financial institutions against supporting or participating in settlement projects.
Hamas also commended the council’s call to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid and relief assistance to the Gaza Strip.
Hamas urged the council to exert more pressure to end the occupation and government-backed settler attacks.
The Movement emphasized that settler violence now regularly targets foreign diplomatic personnel, journalists, and activists.
It said the US and European criticism of these attacks should be followed by practical measures to curb them, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure accountability for the Israeli government over its support for settler violence.
According to a statement issued Friday following a two-day summit in Brussels, European Union leaders called on Israel to immediately reverse plans to expand illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and warned businesses against bidding for construction contracts, citing serious legal, economic and reputational risks.
In conclusions adopted at the October 15-16 European Council meeting, EU leaders condemned Israel’s continued expansion of illegal settlements and escalating violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank.
The leaders specifically demanded that Israel abandon plans for new settlement construction in the E1 area, a controversial development project that threatens to further fragment Palestinian territory and undermine prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
The European Council also urged companies and financial institutions to refrain from participating in construction projects linked to illegal Israeli settlements, warning that involvement could expose them to serious consequences under international law.
“It reiterates that businesses should not bid for construction contracts for E1 or other settlement developments,” the declaration said.
EU leaders also expressed grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, reiterating their opposition to Israeli policies that undermine Palestinian rights and regional stability.
In a related context, extremist settler groups carried out renewed attacks in different West Bank areas on Sunday morning.
According to local sources, settlers wreaked havoc on over 120 fruitful olive trees in the village of Kisan, east of Bethlehem.
In al-Khalil, settlers prevented Palestinian farmers from reaching their olive groves to harvest crops in the Nabi Saleh area of Idhna town.
In Nablus, settlers stole electricity cables after cutting down poles in the village of Majdal Bani Fadil, south of the city.
Settlers also attacked the Ma’in area south of al-Khalil and stole sheep belonging to local residents, while Israeli forces reportedly fired live ammunition extensively in the area.
