Humanitarian aid top priority in Gaza: Dutch premier

ISTANBUL

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said Tuesday that delivering humanitarian aid remains his government’s top priority in the Gaza Strip.

"Humanitarian aid is priority number one. Unlimited access for UN organizations or the Red Cross, Red Crescent, is in fact an absolute precondition. Because only in that way can humanitarian aid actually get into the Gaza Strip," Schoof said in a video message on social media addressing questions about current issues, where he underlined that Israel is obliged to allow aid in under humanitarian law.

He noted that agreements within the EU are not "sufficiently being fulfilled.”

"Food drops are one of the few ways to get aid into Gaza. Fortunately, since last Sunday, the Netherlands has once again been able to carry out these food drops. At the same time, we of course also see that it is not the safest or fastest way to get aid into Gaza. That is why we continue to exert pressure to ensure that aid can also enter via land borders," he said.

Schoof stressed the need to maintain pressure on Israel to improve the humanitarian situation, noting that sanctions are one of the tools, but ot must be pursued within a European framework.

"The Netherlands continues to support a two-state solution, and that means an independent Palestinian state, but also a secure Israel. At this moment, recognition of the Palestinian state is not on the agenda for the Dutch government," Schoof added.

He said that the recognition of Palestine requires a "careful assessment," further emphasizing the "importance" of the two-state solution to be part of the political process.

"Deliberately targeting journalists is unacceptable. Press freedom and the safety of journalists are important -- very important, also in war situations. We are also concerned about the increasing violence against journalists, including in the Gaza Strip. We have therefore asked Israel to provide clarification about this. We have also asked Israel to make access for journalists into Gaza possible, and also to guarantee their safety," he added.

Israel has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.