Belgium will donate several hundred tents to displaced Palestinians in Gaza on day 341 since the 7 October attack and the following Israel-Hamas war.
Via its emergency response scheme, B-FAST, Belgium will send 511 Alpinter Red tents to the people of Gaza. The Defence Ministry will transfer the tents on an A400M transport aircraft. Two staff members from the Foreign Affairs Ministry will also travel to Gaza and liaise with local authorities.
"Since the beginning of the crisis, Belgium has mobilised to come to the aid of civilians affected by the conflict in the Middle East and we will continue to do so for as long as necessary," stated outgoing Foreign Affairs Minister and EU Commissioner nomination Hadja Lahbib (MR), who thanked B-FAST staff for their efforts.
"The region is facing a humanitarian disaster," the Minister continued, reiterating her call for a ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and negotiations for a two-state solution. "Silencing the weapons is a first step towards stability and lasting peace in the region."
Belgium is home to OIP weapons manufacturers, which is owned by Israel's largest weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems. Wallonia suspended all arms exports to Israel in May. Before that, research conducted by Le Soir, RTBF and De Morgen showed that 70 tonnes worth of arms and ammunition had been delivered to the Middle East via Liège Airport since the outbreak of war.
The decision to donate tents to Gaza follows an Israeli missile attack on a designated safe zone in Al-Mawasi, near Khan Yunis. Israel says that Hamas operatives were targeted in the attack. The missiles created enormous craters in the ground, killed nine people, injured around 65 more and destroyed around 20 tents.
