Ireland and 14 Nations Seek Compensation from Israel After West Bank School Demolition

Ireland and 14 other nations will seek compensation from Israel after Israeli settlers demolished a community school in Hamamat al-Maleh, West Bank, co-funded by Irish Aid and 11 EU donors, Canada, the UK, and DG ECHO. The school served approximately 60 children.

The Department of Foreign Affairs reported a significant increase in violent Israeli settler activity in the area, noting the community was already forcibly displaced. The demolition on Tuesday evening by settlers using bulldozers also destroyed other community structures. This follows months of incidents, including vandalism and theft at the school in March.

Ireland and its West Bank Protection Consortium partners previously sought €1.7 million in compensation from Israel in February for assets destroyed or seized since 2015, but have not received payment. The Hamamat al-Maleh community, located in Area C of the West Bank, has faced ongoing pressure from settlement expansion. All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law.