Before the debate on the war between Hamas and Israel began, Prime Minister Rutte, who left office, gave a speech to the House of Representatives in which he discussed, among other issues, the effects of the war on the Netherlands. “The tragedy of this war is that thinking, including in our country, is often black and white,” he said.
The government also needs to deal with this issue. “The image that emerges is that the cabinet blindly supports Israel in everything that happens,” Rutte said. But according to him, that’s not the whole story. “Israel cannot exist safely as long as Hamas can carry out attacks. Rutte said that innocent civilians should become as few victims as possible in the fight against Hamas.
He called for humanitarian breaks during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday. Rutte said that he also met with Palestinian President Abbas about Hamas’ terrorist activities. “Abbas also condemns Hamas for not helping the Palestinian people.”
Do not lose your hope
Rutte says that the perspective of the Israeli and Palestinian people is a two-state solution. “We must maintain hope for humanity.”
Rutte, who returned to the Netherlands today, spoke with family members of Israelis and Palestinians. She spoke in parliament about her meeting with a Palestinian woman who lost five members of her family in a bomb attack. She also spoke with relatives of Israeli hostages and victims. “Every sacrifice is too great, every life has the same value,” Rutte said in the House of Representatives.
The debate in parliament relates to the European summit to be held on Thursday and Friday, where heads of government will discuss the war between Hamas and Israel. Rutte is traveling there on behalf of the Netherlands.
When Deputy Van Baarle said the sentence “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea”, it created a heated debate in the House of Representatives.
Chamber president Bergkamp told him that he did not want to hear this controversial statement during the debate. MPs from VVD, CDA, JA21 and ChristenUnie also protested. In his opinion, this statement is anti-Semitic because it calls for the destruction of Israel.
According to MPs, Denk is polarizing. Van Baarle denies this and says he is committed to equal rights for Palestinians. According to him, these can only be guaranteed if the existing Israeli territory becomes a new state under the Palestinian flag. The majority in the House of Representatives does not agree with this view.
The discussion focuses primarily on possible short-term solutions, such as a ceasefire or a cessation of hostilities:
The government has already spoken in favor of humanitarian aid and will do the same at the European summit. Later in the evening, Rutte will explain this in more detail in the debate and answer questions from MPs.
Rutte has also not yet responded to French President Macron’s suggestion that the international coalition against the Islamic State be included in Israel’s war against Hamas. The Netherlands is also in this coalition.
Source: NOS
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
