Cabinet brings some sick children from Gaza to the Netherlands after all

The cabinet will bring "some" sick children from Gaza to the Netherlands after all. This was written by outgoing Minister David van Weel (Foreign Affairs) and State Secretary Aukje de Vries (Development Aid) to the House of Representatives on Thursday.

These are children who require "complex, highly specialized medical care" and whose lives are in immediate danger. The ministers acknowledge that there is insufficient care available for this group in the region.

"The number of cases that the Netherlands will be able to and will admit will be very limited, and the available care capacity for Dutch children will also be taken into account," said VVD members Van Weel and De Vries.

For a long time, the government refused to consider medical evacuations of sick or injured Gazan children to the Netherlands. According to the government, helping children in the region itself was the most effective and efficient option.

According to the Minister and State Secretary, this remains the policy. "We will continue to focus primarily on reception in the region and continue to call on all countries in the region to contribute." The government previously released 25 million euros to help children in the region.

The House of Representatives is divided on the issue, but the cabinet consistently received support by a narrow majority. On Wednesday, a motion to collect sick children failed again. 72 MPs voted in favor and 74 against.

Left-wing parties, in particular, have long advocated for the repatriation of children from Gaza. They point out that aid organizations claim there is insufficient specialized care available in the region. They also point out that the World Health Organization has asked European countries to take in children. Several EU countries have already agreed to do so.

ANP