Belgian development agency worker killed in Gaza bombing

"It is with great sadness that I learned that one of our Enabel staff was killed in an Israeli bombing last night. Abdallah Nabhan (33) and his 7-year-old son Jamal were killed in an attack on the town of Rafah," said Minister Gennez.

The house where Abdallah's family was living housed about 25 people, including residents and displaced persons seeking refuge there. The attack last night claimed at least seven lives. Many others were injured.

Abdallah Nabhan's wife is believed to be in a critical condition in hospital. The family's two other children, aged 5 years and 7 months, suffered minor injuries, according to Ms Gennez. Abdallah's 65-year-old father, his 35-year-old brother and his 6-year-old niece also lost their lives in the attack.

Evacuation proving very difficult

Minister Gennez was shocked by what had happened. "It is terrible. We are trying to stop the violence, but we are also trying to get the employees who work for our country to safety. This employee had been on an evacuation list for months, but unfortunately it was not possible to get the family to safety in time."

"Abdallah Nabhan was a very dedicated and valued colleague," Enabel said. "He started at Enabel in April 2020 as a business development officer as part of a European project helping small businesses in the Gaza Strip to produce in an environmentally friendly way, linking up with a Belgian development project aimed at helping young people find jobs."

According to Ms Gennez, there are seven more Enabel employees in Gaza. "There are also 237 compatriots not working for us who are stuck in Gaza. They are all on the evacuation list and we are waiting for permission from the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to get them out of Gaza. It is a difficult process and we hope there won’t be any further casualties."

Ms Gennez pointed to the "crushing" responsibility of the Israeli government. Belgian foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib (Francophone liberal/MR) has condemned “this is unacceptable act" and calling the Israeli ambassador to account.

Belgian PM sharp for Israel

Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo (Flemish liberal/Open VLD) says he holds Israel responsible for the death of Abdallah Nabhan, the Palestinian working for the Belgian international development agency Enabel and his son. Mr De Croo says the Israeli government is twice to blame.

"This is for sure tragic news and the Israeli government is twice to blame here," prime minister De Croo told lawkers. "First, because bombing aid workers is something that should absolutely be avoided. Secondly, 4 months ago our government requested that all Belgian aid workers and other beneficiaries be allowed to leave Gaza, but for 4 months now they have refused to give permission for this."

Belgium has long been calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. "Every day innocent civilians and children are killed," Mr De Croo continued. "Dear Israeli government, this must stop. Now! Immediately!"

The war violence in Gaza not only affects the terrorist movement Hamas, but also and disproportionately many innocent civilians. "A democratic state depends on respect for the rule of law," Mr De Croo added. "So, dear Israeli government: stop this right now."

No recognition of Palestine just yet

The war in Gaza has revived calls for the recognition of a Palestinian state, but the Belgian government says it is not going to be rushed into this. "Belgium favours the recognition of the Palestinian state," says prime minister De Croo. "But that has to be part of a peace process and political reforms."

Belgian foreign minister Lahbib speaks from the same songbook. "Belgium will recognise Palestine," she says. "That is the direction history is going." But for her too, recognition must be part of a process leading to a two-state solution. And since that two-state solution is clearly not exactly around the corner, recognition will also be a long time in coming.