More local authorities in the Netherlands have expressed support for Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema’s call for the Dutch government to hold Israel to account over its destruction of Gaza and the starvation of the Palestinian population.

Current affairs programme Nieuwsuur contacted a number of councils to ask their position and found that The Hague, Groningen, Tilburg, Apeldoorn, Arnhem, Amersfoort, Leiden and Utrecht all support Halsema’s stance.

Utrecht has also passed a motion requiring the city to use the term “genocide” in official communications about Gaza.

“Normally it is not up to local councils to speak out about international politics, but the terrible situation in Gaza and Israel’s breaking of the ceasefire has had an impact on our people,” Utrecht mayor Sharon Dijksma told the programme.

Apeldoorn’s mayor Ton Heerts said he hoped the Netherlands would go beyond simply expressing concern. “The Netherlands must work for active de-escalation and humanitarian support,” he said.

Haarlemmermeer and Zwolle do not support Halsema’s position, Nieuwsuur reported. Rotterdam debated the issue on Thursday evening, after the programme was broadcast and several other cities, including Almere, Den Bosch and Eindhoven, declined to comment.

Earlier this week Halsema said she would send a letter to the government urging ministers to take steps to stop the violence. “The Dutch cabinet has drawn a line in the sand, but that only means something if it leads to practical steps, if the Israeli government is called to order and peace is established,” Halsema said.

Support for Israel’s attacks on Gaza is falling in the Netherlands, with two-thirds of people now describing the most recent bombing as “out of all proportion” and 77% condemning the aid blockade, according to a recent RTL opinion poll.

The head of the Dutch institute for war studies Niod has also warned that the destruction of hospitals and schools, the use of hunger as a weapon, and the blocking of food, medicine and fuel deliveries “are all signs that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza may constitute genocidal violence”.

“Hunger is a weapon,” director Martijn Eickhoff told broadcaster NOS, a day after the UN food agency IPC concluded that Gaza’s entire population is at serious risk of famine. “If an entire population is denied access to food, that is potentially genocidal.”