THE HAGUE (Reuters) – The Dutch government on Tuesday pledged 10 million euros ($10.5 million) in extra humanitarian aid to Gaza, saying it was very worried about the rapidly deteriorating situation for the people living there.
The government said the funds were made available in response to a request by the United Nations and would be used for basic needs such as water and healthcare.
It repeated its stance that Israel had the right to defend itself following the devastating attacks by Hamas, but that its response should be “proportionate” and within the international rules of war.
“Civilians or humanitarian aid workers should never be the target of violence, and humanitarian aid should have unlimited access,” Dutch minister for foreign trade and development Liesje Schreinemacher said in a letter to parliament.
(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg and Bart Meijer; Editing by Alison Williams and Christina Fincher)
