ISTANBUL 

Dutch opposition leaders and lawmakers have urged the government to recognize a Palestinian state, following French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement on Thursday that France will move ahead with formal recognition in September.

"Macron is right. The recognition of Palestine is a necessary step toward peace. Time for the Netherlands to take that step too," Frans Timmermans, leader of the Green Left-Labour Party, said on X Friday.

He stressed that as Israel continues violence and starvation in the Gaza Strip, The Hague's decision to turn a blind eye and remain inactive is "unacceptable."

"Now let the Netherlands follow this example! The cabinet still chooses to look the other way. But this shows once again that there is another way. And that the Netherlands' refusal to act is shameful and inexcusable," Sarah Dobbe from the Socialist Party said.

Rob Jetten, leader of the Democrats 66 party, also called on the government to follow Paris’s lead and to "stand firmly" for humanity and international law instead of "turning a blind eye" to the suffering in Gaza and West Bank.

"France will recognize the Palestinian state. As far as we are concerned, the Netherlands should immediately follow this example by also recognizing Palestine as a state. I am submitting parliamentary questions," Stephan van Baarle, party leader of DENK, also wrote on X.