Dutch defense chief slams 'Israel' for actions in Rafah
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The Dutch defense minister condemns "Israel's" aggression on Rafah, highlighting the occupation's failure to consider the protection of civilians.
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Netherlands' Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren arrives to attend the Summit of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Riga, Latvia, December 19, 2022. (AP)
The Netherlands' Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren has condemned the Israeli invasion in Rafah, stating that the occupation entity did "too little" to minimize civilian casualties.
"I think this war has taken too many lives among the civilian population. We said: Rafah is a place where it is impossible to conduct military activities without great casualties. However, that is what happened," Ollongren told Dutch TV broadcaster NOS, adding that "Israel" has done "too little" to prevent victims among the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, despite the demands of the international community.
The defense minister also noted that there are currently insufficient opportunities to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population.
"Israel still has to take responsibility for what it does as well as for the point of view that it holds," Ollongren added. The Dutch defense minister then cited the country's chief of staff, Onno Eichelsheim, who said that "Israel usually uses disproportional force to achieve its goals."
The UN human rights office has also condemned "Israel's" "lawless behavior" in the Strip and the occupied West Bank.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a statement on Sunday, denouncing the recent Israeli strikes on al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza which killed at least 50 Palestinians.
These "attacks appear to be disproportionate in that they would be expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, and damage to civilian objects excessive concerning the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated," according to the bureau.
