Israel-Palestine statement

On Saturday, October 7, terror organisation Hamas launched a terrible attack on the state of Israel and its inhabitants. This attack cost around 1,400 innocent people their lives, and an estimated 200 people the freedom of their lives by taking hostages. People who went to the supermarket and never returned, young people who went to a festival to enjoy music but were killed by violence instead. These events are horrific and have violated international law, according to Amnesty International.

The grief we feel because of this attack cannot be put into words. We see in times of war and armed conflict how human rights are under severe pressure, and sympathise with all the victims of this conflict.

We must face the fact that this conflict has deep roots in decades of tensions and conflicts between Israeli and Palestinian communities. Israel's apartheid regime, the repression of Palestinian civilians, the annexation of Palestinian territory by settlers and the chronic humanitarian crisis in Gaza since Hamas came to power in 2007 because of air  land and sea blockades underlie this conflict.

In response to Hamas attacks, the Israeli government has promised to destroy Hamas . Israel is doing just that, currently by unleashing massive airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. These attacks have caused widespread civilian casualties and destroyed neighbourhoods. Israel's response to cut off the Palestinian territory from water, electricity, fuel and food is not acceptable and goes against the humanitarian law of war . In this conflict, the innocent suffer most. Children in this conflict are needlessly victimised by the horrific violence. UNICEF reports that more than 400 children are now killed or injured daily in this conflict. These numbers seem to be increasing daily.

We as DWARS, the Young Socialists in the Labour Party and PINK! advocate active humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and call on the Dutch government to speak out against activities that go against the law of war.

Disbelief abstention resolution AVV

We further express our disbelief at the withholding of support for the resolution in the United Nations General Assembly (26 October 2023). The Netherlands has a history of condemning wars worldwide. It pains us that the Netherlands did not dare to speak out now to stop the atrocities. We hope the government will still actively speak out against it.

Ceasefire

We also express our concerns and sadness about the conflict and call on the Dutch government to make every effort for a humanitarian ceasefire. To this end, we cannot explain why the Netherlands continues to supply parts for Israeli F-35 fighter jets, while experts in its own ministry warn that this violates the law of war. The Netherlands and the international community must pull out all the stops for a humanitarian ceasefire.

Two-state solution

The Netherlands and the international community must work to break the spiral of violence, create space for the acute release of all hostages and for a lasting diplomatic peace solution through a two-state solution in which the rights of Israelis and Palestinians are recognised, and in which the Palestinian territories are not occupied by Israeli settlers and the Israeli government stops perpetuating the apartheid regime. In the solutions, it is important to keep listening to the people living in this area, and not to continue to believe only in our own rightness.

Against hate and polarisation

This conflict also has major implications for the situation in the Netherlands. Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are growing strongly. This worries us greatly. It is important that we as young people act against all forms of Muslim hatred and anti-Semitic statements to counter polarisation.

This statement is signed by Young Socialists in the Labour Party, PINK!, and DWARS