Dutch Min. urges "all parties" to hold to ceasefire as Israeli attack kills 330 in Gaza
The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has come to an explosive end with large-scale Israeli air strikes in the Palestinian territory. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 330 deaths, including many children. Minister Caspar Veldkamp of Foreign Affairs called on “all parties” to hold to the “terms of the ceasefire.”
Israel says it has resumed its bombing of the Gaza Strip because Hamas is refusing to release hostages. “Israel will from now on act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. Sources told Reuters that the new offensive would continue as long as necessary and will go beyond airstrikes.
Hamas accused Israel of breaking the hard-fought for ceasefire and leaving the 59 hostages still held in Gaza to their fate.
“The Netherlands calls on all parties to respect the terms of the ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza. All civilians must be protected,” said Minister Veldkamp on X. “We urge all parties to fully implement this: the remaining hostages must be released, humanitarian aid must reach those in need, and all fighting must be definitively ended.”
VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz also responded on X, speaking of “heavy” news. “Again so many victims. Again families of hostages who fear retaliation,” she said. “Let this not be the beginning of a new spiral of violence. Let there soon be a perspective on a ceasefire and a safe return of the hostages.”
“In addition to cutting off aid and utilities to hundreds of thousands of innocent people, Netanyahu is now reopening the war in Gaza with the potential of many more deaths,” said D66 leader Rob Jetten. “The international community must do everything in its power to end this spiral of violence.”
As of 9:09 a.m., nothing has been heard from the leaders of the two largest parties in the Tweede Kamer, the far-right PVV and left-wing GroenLinks-PvdA. PVV leader Geert Wilders is known to support Israel. The Gaza war is complicated for the left-wing combination. The PvdA historically has many Jewish members and supporters, while GroenLinks is more outspoken in its support for Palestine.
The first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on January 19. The first-phase deal was that Hamas would release some Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. In the second phase, the remaining hostages would have been released and Israel would withdraw militarily.
But talks between Israel and Hamas about the second phase were already strife and Israel carried out multiple attacks in recent days, NOS reports. Before last night’s attacks, Israeli attacks killed at least 150 people in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire took effect. Two weeks ago, Israel again completely closed the borders to the Palestinian territory, cutting off humanitarian aid. Israel also cut off electricity supply to the Gaza Strip.
