Today, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will embark on a diplomatic mission to Israel for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The main focus of this meeting is to clarify the tragic incident involving 33-year-old Islam al-Ashqar, a Dutch woman who lost her life in the Gaza Strip. Her sons are still in the region, according to NU.nl.
READ MORE | BREAKING: An 18-year-old Dutchman is being held hostage in the Gaza Strip
Rutte’s stance on Israel
In a tweet posted on X, Rutte emphasized the urgency of the situation in Gaza, highlighting the need for a “humanitarian pause” to deliver vital aid to the innocent civilians of Gaza.
He also stressed that now, more than ever, a “two-state solution” is extremely important.
READ MORE | Dutch Prime Minister expresses support for Israel, the Netherlands reacts in shock
Mark Rutte’s stance on Israel has been evident on multiple occasions. However, his message also conveyed a nuanced approach, emphasizing that Israel should exercise restraint to prevent the regional conflict from escalating further.
Rutte claimed that while Israel has to remove the threat from Hamas and free the hostages, this should be done in a way to avoid more civilian casualties.
The exact details of the meeting remain to be seen.
Want the latest Dutch news to come zooming through the internet to your inbox? Dat kan! Subscribe to DutchReview’s weekly roundup 📮