Belgian minister condemns settler attack on diplomats in Taybeh

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot strongly condemned an attack by masked Israeli occupiers against Palestinians and diplomats in Taybeh. The incident occurred on Saturday in the occupied West Bank, targeting European representatives and local residents during their departure from the village.

Israeli settlers attacked diplomatic vehicles belonging to European missions as delegations were leaving the Palestinian village east of Ramallah. Reports indicated that a group of masked individuals carrying clubs smashed the window of a vehicle belonging to the Belgian consulate.

The attackers demanded that passengers and diplomats show their identification cards during the confrontation. Video footage appeared to show one of the consuls being knocked to the ground by the assailants during the violent encounter with the diplomatic delegations.

Witnesses clarified that Bernard Baudoux, the mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in France, was among those harmed. This detail corrected earlier media reports which had incorrectly suggested that a French consul was the primary target of the assault.

Prevot stated that his team was safe despite the damage to a Belgian vehicle. He emphasized that harvesting olives, reporting news, or carrying out diplomatic duties should never put anyone at risk of such violent attacks by armed groups.

The minister called on Israeli authorities, as the occupying power, to protect Palestinians and ensure the safety of diplomats. He demanded that those responsible for the violence be brought to justice to end the impunity enjoyed by settlers involved in such acts.

Prevot announced that Belgium would continue pressing for European Union sanctions against those responsible for the violence. He linked the attack to Israel’s settlement policy and reiterated his country's condemnation of settlement expansion and attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land.