Dutch journalists demand in letter that Minister Veldkamp protects their Palestinian colleagues

The Netherlands must « make every effort » in order to prevent journalists in Gaza and on the West Bank occupied by Israel being targeted by Israeli violence. That demand 45 Dutch media in a joint letter that they sent to outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp (NSC) on Wednesday. Also journalists from NRC signed the letter.

« Journalists take care of the documentation of war crimes and human rights violations with which we can call rulers to account, » the Dutch media write to Veldkamp in their letter. « It makes the safety of Palestinian journalists of vital importance. They are the eyes and ears of the world. »

Since Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent devastating war in Gaza, Israel has killed 184 journalists and media employees. This is according to figures from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). In at least 17 cases, according to the CPJ, Israel killed targeted journalists in the Palestinian territories. The organization speaks of the deadliest period for journalists ever measured.

Research into EU association agreement

The journalists demand that Veldkamp will take the initiative for a public statement in which he condemns Israeli violations of the freedom of the press. Veldkamp should speak against, among other things, the ‘many arrests’ of journalists in the occupied West Bank, in Gaza and Israel, and call for immediate release of imprisoned journalists.

The letter also calls for « an independent investigation » into journalists who would have been murdered by Israel. Veldkamp must make ‘Israël’s attack on freedom of the press and violations of international law’ part of the investigation he has requested for the EU association agreement with Israel, the Dutch journalists say.

Israël prohibits Media access to Gaza, making international reporting impossible and reporting on site entirely on the shoulders of local journalists. The Dutch media want Veldkamp to insist on access to Gaza. « International journalists reach other target groups via platforms other than their local colleagues, and thus increase the visibility of what happens there, » the letter says.

Editorial team NRC does not sign

The letter was signed by the journalists and editors of, among others, the AdANP, De Groene Amsterdammer,,  » EenVandaagNos, News hour,,  » Nu.nl,,  » RTL News,,  » Fidelity and de Volkskrant. Also The correspondent,,  » Follow the Money,,  » The Stentor,,  » De Gelderlander,,  » Free Netherlands And public broadcasters NTR and VPRO are underneath. Free Press Unlimited, the Dutch Association of Journalists (NVJ) and the Association of Investigative Journalists (VVOJ) are co-signers.

Unlike other newspapers, the editor -in -chief of NRC Not to sign the letter. The letter was signed by “journalists from NRC« .

We find editor -in -chief Patricia Veldhuis about that decision: “We find the attacks on journalists in Gaza horrible. We have also been asking the Israeli authorities for a long time to give journalists access to the area. We also made that call through the society of editor -in -chiefs and we sign a one this week New call for this From reporters without borders. But by demanding a study with, among other things, consequences for the association agreement with Israel, as happens in this new letter, we would sit in the chair of politics. That’s not our role. « 

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