BETHLEHEM, Monday, August 2, 2024 (WAFA) - French Consul General, Nicolas Kassianides, reaffirmed his country's firm stance on the issue of colonies, stating that "they are illegal under international law, constitute a major obstacle to peace and increase tensions on the ground."
This statement was made during his visit on Monday to a protest tent set up in the Al-Makhrour area of Beit Jala, west of Bethlehem, to denounce the seizure of the Qaissieh family's land.
The French Consul listened to an explanation from Michelle Qaissieh, the wife of landowner Ramzi Qaissieh, about the colonists’ attacks against her family and their seizure of the land.
He strongly condemned the assault, stating: "This is why I am here today, to express my solidarity with a family that holds French citizenship. As the Consul General, I wanted to show support and solidarity with the family in defending their rights after they were forced out of their land by colonists.”
The Israeli occupation forces stormed the protest tent two days ago and handed the land owner an order banning the family’s access to the land for 15 days. They also detained his daughter, Elsa during their raid.
The colonists seized the family’s land in the Al-Makhrour area on July 31st, and forced the family to leave at gunpoint, despite the family’s possession of documents proving their ownership of the property.
T.R.
