JERUSALEM, Tuesday, March 15, 2022 (WAFA) – After attending today an Israeli Supreme Court hearing on the permanent expulsion of more than 1300 Palestinians from their homes in Masafer Yatta in South Hebron Hills, declared part of a firing zone for Israeli military purposes, the European Union Representative Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff warned that expulsions would be a breach of Israel's obligation as the occupying power.

"The residents, many of whom also exposed to settler violence, are at risk of forcible transfer," said the EU Representative in a tweet. "Beyond a devastating impact on children, women and families, expulsion would be in breach of Israel’s obligations as the occupying power, a violation of international law and basic human rights."

Burgsdorff met yesterday with the father of Mohammed El Halabi, the Gaza director of World Vision International who has been in Israeli prison for over five years without a verdict and whose detention was renewed for the 23rd time on 22 February.

"By keeping Halabi in detention and refraining from issuing a verdict, Israeli authorities continue to violate international law, denying him a swift, fair and impartial judicial process," said the EU Representative in a tweet. "Unless proven guilty, Halabi should be released now."

M.K.