Dutch to boycott products from illegal Israeli settlements

The Netherlands will press ahead with preparations for a total trade boycott of products from illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories, foreign minister David van Weel has confirmed, following a vote in favour in parliament.

The measure is now supported by the right-wing VVD, after the failure of efforts to find enough support for measures at a European level, MP Eric van der Burg said during Wednesday’s debate.

But there was no majority support in parliament to open Dutch hospitals to sick and wounded children from Gaza. The VVD remains opposed to the move, with Van der Burg telling MPs it would be “most effective and efficient” to help them in the locality.

Chris Stoffer, leader of the fundamentalist Protestant SGP, also rejected the idea of evacuating children, saying that Dutch assistance would be “a drop in the ocean.”

Ministers have agreed to give a further €25 million worth of humanitarian aid to Gaza. That money will partly go to pay for medical evacuations and treatment in neighbouring countries.

Aid group Save the Children has denied claims that treating children in Gaza’s neighbouring countries is more effective. It says there is both a shortage of medical expertise and hospital beds and “these children don’t have time to wait”.