The Netherlands abstained from voting on a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire, on the grounds that Israel should retain the right to defend itself against terrorism. This is what outgoing Prime Minister Rutte told NOS.
“There was a lot of good in this UN resolution. But I say this: if Israel does not eliminate the threat, then that will be the end of Israel,” Rutte said after a radio address in The Hague.
The Netherlands was among the 45 countries that abstained. Jordan’s request for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid was accepted with 120 votes in favour, 14 against.
Following a radio interview in The Hague, outgoing Prime Minister Rutte explains why the Netherlands abstained from the UN vote:
The Dutch abstention was met with a lot of criticism, including from the charity Save the Children. MPs are also making their voices heard. SP leader Marijnissen accuses the Dutch cabinet of “cowardice”. Volt and the Animal Welfare Party and others call this an incomprehensible decision.
Klaver, leader of the GroenLinks-PvdA group, calls for accountability. “The government sees images of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. He knows there are thousands of innocent victims. This aid is not reaching Gaza. But he still abstains,” he writes about X.
Sjoerdsma, a member of parliament from the ruling D66 party, also demanded an explanation. He finds the Dutch abstention shameful and believes that the Cabinet should not raise any objections now that the motion has been approved.
“Humanitarian aid breaks”
Outgoing Secretary of State Bruins Slot has now issued a written statement. He said the Netherlands did not want a “ceasefire” but “humanitarian pauses to allow humanitarian access and provide vital goods and services to the civilian population in Gaza.”
He added that the “demand for the immediate release of all hostages” was not sufficiently included in the decision. “In our voting statement, we emphasized that the Netherlands calls on all parties to exercise moderation.”
Rutte announced that he plans to call his Israeli counterpart Netanyahu this weekend and ask him to do two things: allow much more humanitarian aid to pass through the crossing at the Egyptian border and ensure that settler attacks on Palestinians in the country stop Western attacks. The bank will be stopped. “These are two things Israel can do immediately.”
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.
