Israeli human rights groups have voiced grave concerns to the European Union over the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The groups, who took part in talks in the medieval Belgian city of Ghent, urged the EU and international community to do more to protect Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They also lambasted the Israeli army's refusal to allow them into the occupied territories as independent observers.
“It's in everyone's interests that we be allowed in so that we can gather factual and accurate information,” said Nimrod Amzalak of B'Tselem, a human rights group set up during the first intifada in the late 1980s.
Another activist, Noam Lubell, of Physicians for Human Rights, said he had received reports of wounded civilians being left to bleed to death, ambulances being turned back or shot at, hospitals running out of supplies and those needing medical treatment unable to reach hospitals.
Commission President Romano Prodi and Development Commissioner Poul Nielson announced a €6.7 million aid package for the Palestinian Authority earlier this month.
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This article appeared in the 18 April 2002 issue of European Voice.
Khaled Diab is an award-winning journalist, blogger and writer who has been based in Tunis, Jerusalem, Brussels, Geneva and Cairo. Khaled also gives talks and is regularly interviewed by the print and audiovisual media.
Khaled Diab is the author of two books: Islam for the Politically Incorrect (2017) and Intimate Enemies: Living with Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land (2014).
In 2014, the Anna Lindh Foundation awarded Khaled its Mediterranean Journalist Award in the press category. This website, The Chronikler, won the 2012 Best of the Blogs (BOBs) for the best English-language blog. Khaled was longlisted for the Orwell journalism prize in 2020.
In addition, Khaled works as communications director for an environmental NGO based in Brussels.
He has also worked as a communications consultant to intergovernmental organisations, such as the EU and the UN, as well as civil society.
Khaled lives with his beautiful and brilliant wife, Katleen, who works in humanitarian aid. The foursome is completed by Iskander, their smart, creative and artistic son, and Sky, their mischievous and footballing cat.
Egyptian by birth, Khaled's life has been divided between the Middle East and Europe. He grew up in Egypt and the UK, and has lived in Belgium, on and off, since 2001. He holds dual Egyptian-Belgian nationality.
Khaled Diab is an award-winning journalist, blogger and writer who has been based in Tunis, Jerusalem, Brussels, Geneva and Cairo. Khaled also gives talks and is regularly interviewed by the print and audiovisual media.
Khaled Diab is the author of two books: Islam for the Politically Incorrect (2017) and Intimate Enemies: Living with Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land (2014).
In 2014, the Anna Lindh Foundation awarded Khaled its Mediterranean Journalist Award in the press category. This website, The Chronikler, won the 2012 Best of the Blogs (BOBs) for the best English-language blog. Khaled was longlisted for the Orwell journalism prize in 2020.
In addition, Khaled works as communications director for an environmental NGO based in Brussels.
He has also worked as a communications consultant to intergovernmental organisations, such as the EU and the UN, as well as civil society.
Khaled lives with his beautiful and brilliant wife, Katleen, who works in humanitarian aid. The foursome is completed by Iskander, their smart, creative and artistic son, and Sky, their mischievous and footballing cat.
Egyptian by birth, Khaled’s life has been divided between the Middle East and Europe. He grew up in Egypt and the UK, and has lived in Belgium, on and off, since 2001. He holds dual Egyptian-Belgian nationality.
