Suspect in Israeli embassy firebombing confesses in court; Facing 2.5 years in prison

A 25-year-old man from Amsterdam suspected of throwing a burning bottle filled with petrol at the Israeli embassy in The Hague on March 21 had tried to do the same two weeks prior. Osama A., a Syrian-born Amsterdam resident, admitted in the District Court in The Hague that he was unable to carry out the attack on the embassy on March 7.

The man said that his motive was to tell Israel to stop the war in Gaza. “I have experience with children that are dying of hunger,” said the Syrian-born suspect. “It was a message to Israel: war is wrong, please stop.”

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) recommended a prison sentence of 2.5 years, with the possibility of suspending ten months if probationary conditions are met. The fact that the action targetted the Israeli embassy means it was an aggravated arson, she told the court.

During a hearing in court on Tuesday, he said he paid four euros for gasoline at a filling station on March 6. The next day, he cycled past the embassy building on Johan de Wittlaan in The Hague with a bottle of gasoline and a piece of cloth.

“I was nervous and didn’t dare to do it,” A. said at the start of his criminal trial. “I was scared and could not do it.”

On March 21, he made a second attempt. This time, he threw a burning bottle against the facade of the building, at the height of about one storey above ground. The burning Molotov cocktail fell directly into a hedge.

The business center was slightly damaged. There were no injuries. A security guard who was standing at the entrance of the building later stated that he heard glass breaking, saw a flash of flame and felt the heat.

Security cameras recorded the incident, and the footage was shown in court. The suspect is also clearly visible on the camera at the moment he threw the firebomb.

A. said he deliberately aimed at the facade and not at the entrance. “It was not my intention to harm anyone. It was a protest action on my part.” He said he regretted it. “I admit what I did was wrong.”

If the Molotov cocktail had wound up striking the entrance and the bottle had burst, a life-threatening situation would have arisen, the prosecutor argued. She said that arson was proven, and said it was a very serious crime.