Israel Demands Belgian Apology Over Gaza Aid Worker's Hamas Ties

Israel's embassy in Belgium has demanded an apology from the Belgian government following new revelations about a Palestinian employee of the Belgian development agency Enabel, Abdullah Jamal Subhi Nabhan, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah in April 2024. At the time of his death, Nabhan and several family members were killed, sparking strong condemnation in Brussels. Belgium's Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib summoned the Israeli ambassador for explanations, and Enabel condemned the strike. Nabhan had worked for Enabel since 2020 on a European program supporting small businesses in Gaza. Israel had stated the targeted house belonged to a Hamas official within the extended family and that an investigation was ongoing. Israel later provided Belgium with information about employees linked to Hamas. The case resurfaced in early September after open-source researcher Gabriel Epstein published documents linking Nabhan to the Hamas Khan Younis brigade, including a mourning poster calling him a "mujahid" and showing him in uniform. Based on this evidence, the Israeli embassy now asserts Nabhan was a member of Hamas and believes the accusations against Israel in 2024 should be re-evaluated. "Before condemning Israel hastily, it is important to consider the facts. Those who accused Israel must now acknowledge the evidence," the embassy stated. Israeli Ambassador to Belgium David Saranga further requested "public apologies would be appropriate, but private apologies would also be accepted."

The situation arises amidst a different political landscape in Belgium, with the government now led by a center-right coalition following recent elections.