Schoof calls Israeli plan further occupation Gaza ‘worrying’

Prime Minister Dick Schoof thinks it is ‘worrying’ that Israel is planning Gaza further militarily and to occupy more territory. He said that on Tuesday evening at a press conference in The Hague, who gave the Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever together. The plans of Israel, which also announced that it would only have distribution of humanitarian aid under military control, are « with regard to the Dutch cabinet, not the way forward. »

Shoved read an explanation for paper. « The cabinet calls on Israel to take a different course and resume conversations about a ceasefire. » The leader of the PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB cabinet « emphasizes » that Israel must adhere to international law. « We condemn the developments and statements that conflict with it, such as the blockade (of humanitarian aid by Israel) and calls from permanent (Israeli) presence in Gaza. »

The Prime Minister has explained to what extent he or Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp (NSC) have addressed Israeli ministers about this. Schoof kept it with ‘the minister has constant contact’. The Dutch cabinet perseveres in the refusal to order Israel public strictly (er). The Support for that approach However, it is declining, according to recent opinion investigation.

De Wever: ‘Endless Feuilleton’

The Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA), who took office at the end of January and had a first official meeting with Schoof in that context on Tuesday, did not read from a note. « The humanitarian situation in Gaza is no longer to see, » said De Wever. On « Images of starving children », « only a human reaction is possible: this must stop. » He calls Israel’s war in Gaza « an endless feuilleton of death and destruction. » De Wever states that Belgium sends « signals » to Israel, but that they « are not being picked up for the time being. »

Just like in the Netherlands, there is also criticism of the Israel policy of the government in Belgium. The difference is that the call for a harder conviction of Israel in Brussels also sounds within the coalition. For example, the leader of Vooruit, the Flemish Socialists, spoke last weekend for the first time of ‘genocide« . The Christian Democratic Party CD&V is calling to recognize on Palestine. De Wever said about that on Tuesday: « We will have to make that decision within the government. »

With the cooperation of Lamyae Aharouay.

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