Forty lawmakers in the US Congress deplored the US administration’s silence on the ongoing Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.
This came in a letter sent by US lawmakers to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday, hours before his arrival in Israel on Wednesday.
Representatives are from the Democratic Party to which President-elect Joe Biden belongs.
"We are writing to you to express our grave concern about the recent demolitions carried out by the Israeli government in the Palestinian Bedouin community (Hamsa Al-Buqi`a) in the Jordan Valley," the text of the letter, which Anadolu Agency obtained a copy of, read.
They added, "These actions are a serious violation of international law, as they destroyed homes and displaced 73 people, including 41 children."
On November 3, the Israeli occupation army destroyed the "Hamsa al-Buqi`a" community, east of the city of Tubas (north), leaving its residents in the open.
"We urge you to communicate with the Israeli government immediately, to condemn the demolitions and secure a commitment to end future displacement efforts," added Pompeo's letter from US lawmakers. US lawmakers also condemned Israeli annexation plans for lands in the West Bank.
"The creeping annexation cannot be a policy supported by the United States government, if we wish to see peace in the region," they said in their letter.
Referring to the demolition in Homs al-Buqi’a, US lawmakers said, “This unilateral act was the largest Israeli displacement of Palestinians in 4 years, and this behavior was only possible through the continued silence of the American government.
They added, "This is a serious humanitarian issue that requires your immediate attention and our collective condemnation. The need for the US government to participate in particular is due to the renewed threat of demolition against the Palestinian village of Al-Khan Al-Ahmar (east Jerusalem), and the possibility of demolishing several additional villages in the Masafer Yatta area (southern West Bank)."
US lawmakers also inquired whether military equipment from US sources was used in the displacement operations.
"In addition to asking the Foreign Ministry to condemn this violation of international law, we also want to know whether military equipment from American sources has been used in the recent displacement operations carried out by the Israeli government for the Palestinian Bedouin community in Homs Al-Buqi`a," they said in their letter.
They added, "This request repeats a previous request submitted to you by 64 members of Congress on March 16, and we called you at that time and we are still up to now, to work to prevent illegal home demolitions and the forcible transfer of civilians everywhere in the world, and the use of American equipment originating in the world." This devastating practice. "
And American lawmakers continued, "The administration's silence regarding the speech of Congress and the recent Israeli actions is deafening."
The lawmakers called on the US Secretary of State to use the remaining two months in office to condemn human rights violations and violations of international law, and said, "It is the only way to achieve a comprehensive peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
Many Arab, Islamic and Western countries have condemned the Israeli demolition of the Palestinian population this month.