Rutte tells Netanyahu to be wise with next steps during difficult conversation

Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte used his visit to Israel to urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to lean on "wisdom" when he leads Israel's next steps against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Rutte said the two had a "good, but tough conversation" during his brief stop in Israel. Rutte recalled telling Netanyahu, “Realize the power you have.”

Rutte said he believes it is important that Hamas is eliminated, because Israel's future is in danger as long as the threat from Hamas remains. But eliminating the militant movement must be done with "a minimum of civilian casualties."

Israel is "a giant in military terms" and must prevent the conflict from escalating, and from Iran becoming involved, Rutte said. He did not tell Netanyahu whether or not he believed Israel has gone too far in its retaliation against Hamas for attacks the group carried out in Israel beginning on October 7. Hamas has been classified as a terrorist group by the European Union, and the European Parliament said the latest incident were "despicable terrorist attacks."

Rutte also said the he wants more room for humanitarian aid to be provided to the residents of the Gaza Strip. Over two million people live in the area, where there is now a shortage of most supplies. Rutte wants to see a "massive increase" in the amount of goods entering the Gaza Strip via Egypt. So far, this has involved about twenty trucks each with food, water and medicine, but international aid organizations say this is far too little.

The Dutch foreign affairs minister, Hanke Bruins Slot, made similar remarks ahead of Monday's meeting with her European Union counterparts in Luxembourg. “It’s absolutely necessary that there is more humanitarian aid," she said, mentioning the need for more medicine, food and water. "The Dutch government has also made available 10 million euros to give more humanitarian aid, at the moment, to the Palestinians, because we need to take care of innocent people.”

Rutte further spoke to Netanyahu about the hostages held captive by Hamas, including Ofir Engel. The young Israeli man recently obtained Dutch nationality through an emergency procedure using the family heritage of one great grandparent. Rutte also spoke further with the Israeli prime minister about the risk of the conflict spreading to other countries in the region, "without having to explain to Israel in an hour how to wage war."

Earlier Monday, Rutte had a conversation with the family of Islam al-Ashqar, the 33-year-old Dutch woman killed in Gaza last weekend. "That was of course very emotional."

Rutte was also set to immediately travel to Ramallah in the West Bank for a conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.