Support from EU ministers for Dutch demand for investigation into Israel

WARSAW (ANP) – A decision on an investigation was not made on Thursday during that informal meeting. This may happen at the next official meeting of the foreign ministers in Brussels on May 20.

The request from Veldkamp will be further discussed there, said EU foreign chief Kaja Kallas.

“It is taken very seriously,” said Veldkamp. “I see that there is a very broad group of countries that really finds the ongoing blockade on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip a problem, as well as the decision of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s security cabinet to intensify the war.”

The signal that comes from this is important, says Veldkamp. Also because it is issued by countries that are traditionally close to Israel, such as the Netherlands and Germany.

Israel is not happy with his demand for an investigation, said Veldkamp. “But from the Netherlands, they always get an honest opinion, and they have always received that from me in the past.” Veldkamp has been an ambassador in Israel.

The “frustration among the member states is enormous” that the suffering of the Gazans cannot be stopped, said Kallas. This is caused by the withholding of food aid and by the intensification of violence by Israel.

According to Veldkamp, Israel is violating Article 2 of the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel with that blockade. It states that human rights and democratic principles must be respected.

(May 8, 2025)