A report titled “Squandered Aid” was published by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor on Monday, documenting in details Israel’s destruction of EU-funded projects in the Palestinian territories. During the first three months of 2016, the number of demolitions per month increased to 165, compared with an average of 50 demolitions per month during 2012 – 2015, according to the report.

The Euro-Med Monitor estimated the total squandered EU aid money at €65 million, lost over the period 2001-2015, with at least €23 million lost only during the 2014 Israeli assault on Gaza.

Moreover, the report indicated that information on damages to EU-funded projects has been inaccessible since 2012 to media, human rights institutions, and the public.

The Euro-Med Monitor also said that such information “might represent an embarrassment to the EU for not protecting its funded facilities properly. Thus, most relevant data are classified.” Consequently, the report relied primarily on field research, including interviews with eyewitnesses, village councils, municipalities and relevant governmental and non-governmental bodies, as well as past publications and anonymous "tips" made available by diplomats who asked to remain anonymous.

Additionally, the Israeli occupation has demolished more than 50,000 Palestinian buildings in the West Bank and Jerusalem since 1967 to make way for Jewish-only settlements internationally recognized as illegal.

This trend is continuing with no signs of stopping. During the first three months of 2016, Israel destroyed more houses and infrastructure built with European assistance in the West Bank than during all of 2015. More than 120 buildings financed by EU donors have been demolished.

At the same time, the three Israeli assaults on Gaza between 2008 and 2015 destroyed many homes and infrastructure.

Among the report’s recommendations are a call for the European Commission to investigate and publicly announce all destruction of and damage to European-funded projects on occupied Palestinian land, demand compensation from the Israeli government and respond with sanctions if it is not forthcoming, while continuing to invest in Palestinian development.