Rutte urges against Israeli attack on Rafah; Emergency order around Israeli embassy

Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reduce the level of force used against the Palestinian people and avoid large-scale military action in Rafah on the same day that the Netherlands announced it would appeal against a court order that it stopped providing parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel. Mayor Jan van Zanen of The Hague implemented an emergency order around the embassy of Israel after a threat prompted the city to increase security last week.

Rutte visited Israel and the Palestinian territories on Monday. “In my talks earlier today with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Benny Gantz, I once again made an urgent appeal to reduce the level of force. Large-scale military action in Rafah would have catastrophic humanitarian consequences. In addition, Israel must allow substantially more humanitarian aid into Gaza, and more quickly,” he said on X after the meeting.

He also met with Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Mohammed Shtayyeh. In this talk, access to humanitarian aid “was also a key topic,” Rutte said. “As was the importance of releasing all of the hostages held by Hamas.” They discussed a long-term solution to the conflict. “That requires a lasting political solution: a viable Palestinian state existing alongside a secure Israel. For this to succeed, the Palestinian Authority also needs to make reforms.”

In The Hague city council meeting on Monday evening, Mayor Van Zanen announced that he implemented an emergency order around the Israeli embassy on Johan de Wittlaan, Omroep West reports. The emergency order enables the police to check the embassy, search people around it, and deny people access to the building. The city deployed extra security around the embassy last week.

On Monday, the mayor said that the city takes a threat against the embassy very seriously. “I realize very well how drastic it is for the environment and the traffic that can no longer use part of Johan de Wittlaan,” said the mayor. “If I can inform you about changes in the situation, I will do so.”

On October 7, Hamas committed large-scale terrorist attacks in Israel, killing at least 1,139 people. Israel immediately retaliated with large-scale bombings on the Gaza Strip and, except for a few days-long “humanitarian pause” in exchange for hostages, has continued the attacks since. As of February 12, Israel has killed 28,340 Palestinians, including over 10,000 children, in its attacks, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.

Over the past weeks, Israeli forces told hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to seek shelter in Rafah. Israel is now preparing for a ground assault on the area.