agencies

A delegation representing 16 countries visited one of the institutions that was closed down by Israel on the pretext of its support for terrorism. The delegation confirmed that there is no evidence for Israel's allegations. The representative of the European Union to Palestine, Sven Kohn von Burgsdorff, confirmed that the support provided by the Union to the Palestinian partner institutions will not stop. This came during a solidarity visit by a number of consuls and representatives of diplomatic missions in Palestine, to the headquarters of Al-Haq Foundation in Ramallah, denouncing the closure of the Israeli forces, along with 6 other human rights and civil institutions. The representative of the European Union stressed that "Israel's previous allegations regarding the connection of the targeted Palestinian institutions with "terrorist organizations" or their association with the misuse of funds have not been substantiated." Burgsdorff said that "there is absolutely no reason not to continue cooperating with our partners with whom we have long-standing relations, and who have been designated as terrorist organizations by the Israeli army and military leaders." The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) quoted Burgsdorff as saying, "The support that we have been providing for years has had an impact on enabling Palestinian civil society to provide services to the needy, and work to hold all parties accountable, including Israel as an occupying power," and indicated that this support is indispensable. In order to promote human rights in Palestine. The representative of the European Union indicated that the solidarity visit "is dedicated to meeting the directors of the seven institutions that were closed by the Israeli occupation authorities in the morning, in order to find out what happened, and to send reports on this as soon as possible to the capitals whose representatives attended the meeting." Diplomats from 16 countries participated in the visit: Denmark, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Britain, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Chile and Mexico, in addition to the European Union delegation