Dutch government critical of Israel's plans to distribute aid in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to allow minimal aid into Gaza is “flawed and insufficient,” Minister Caspar Veldkamp of Foreign Affairs said on X. “The catastrophic situation in Gaza requires massive humanitarian aid immediately to put an end to food shortages and suffering.”
Veldkamp also called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Israel has blocked any food, water, and medicine from entering Gaza since early March. Netanyahu now announced that “a basic amount of food” would start entering Gaza immediately, but it is unclear what he meant by that. Netanyahu said that he decided to let some food into Gaza due to pressure from Israel’s allies.
On Sunday, around 100,000 people protested in The Hague, calling for Israel to immediately stop its genocide in Gaza and for the Dutch government to take a harsher stand against Israel.
Veldkamp’s spokesperson said that the protest would not change the government’s focus on diplomacy. Veldkamp feels the government has sent a strong signal by asking the European Union to investigate whether Israel was violating the human rights conditions of a treaty between the EU and the country.
Israel has killed over 53,000 people in Gaza since a Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. The counter topped 53,000 on Friday, Al Jazeera reported. Over 120,000 people in Gaza are injured, and thousands are missing under the rubble, presumed dead.
