Israeli ambassador responds to death of Belgian agency employee: “He stayed in the house of Hamas member”

The Israeli ambassador to Belgium has responded to the death of the employee of the Belgian development agency Enabel. Abdallah Nabhan and his son were killed in an Israeli army bombardment in the Gaza Strip. “The house the family was staying in was owned by a senior member of Hamas,” it said.

“It is with deep sadness and horror that we learn of the death of our colleague Abdallah Nabhan (33) and his seven-year-old son last night following a bombardment by the Israeli army in the eastern part of the city of Rafah,” wrote the office of Development Minister Caroline Gennez (Forward) in a communication. The attack killed at least seven people and injured several other victims.

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During question time in the chamber, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo responded to the news. He explicitly pointed the finger at the Israeli government. According to him, a country must do everything it can to prevent aid workers from being bombed. Moreover, Belgium has been asking for four months to allow all Belgian aid workers and other rights holders to leave Gaza. “People have been refusing for four months,” said De Croo. “Innocent people and children are killed every day. Dear Israeli Government. This has to stop. Now.”

Called to account

Minster Gennez and Enabel condemn “the attack on innocent civilians in the strongest terms” and ask that the other seven Enabel colleagues still in Gaza be immediately allowed to leave. “I summon the ambassador of Israel to condemn this unacceptable act and demand an explanation,” said Foreign Minister Hadje Lahbib (MR). On Friday morning, the Israeli ambassador was summoned to Gennez and Lahbib (MR).

“In the meeting, I expressed our regret for every innocent civilian life that was lost,” the Israeli ambassador wrote on Enabel employee. “That Hamas member was the target of the airstrike,” we read. “The investigation is ongoing and I will provide further information as soon as we have it.”