The hague: A Dutch human rights organization announced plans to file a complaint against lawmaker Gidi Markuszower for his remarks advocating the use of 'maximum force' against Palestinian asylum seekers from Gaza.
According to Anadolu Agency, The Rights Forum has expressed that Markuszower's statements, shared in a video by the left-wing activist media platform Left Laser, constitute incitement to violence against Palestinians. The Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that the organization found the comments 'morally reprehensible' and called for a legal review by prosecutors within the framework of a democratic constitutional state.
The controversy arose from interviews conducted by Left Laser with Dutch lawmakers and Migration Minister David van den Brink concerning the potential admission of Palestinian refugees from Gaza and Greece. In the excerpts released online, Markuszower, who leads the far-right Markuszower Group, stated that Palestinians from Gaza should be denied entry into Europe and suggested that they could either stay in 'Arabia' or 'wither away' in Gaza. He further asserted that the people of Gaza were responsible for their plight due to their alleged support for Hamas.
In another segment of the video, Markuszower advocated: 'The Dutch government must stop them by force, perhaps with even more force than where they came from.' When probed about whether the Netherlands should employ more force than Israel, he responded: 'The maximum force.' Subsequently, Markuszower clarified on the social media platform X that 'appropriate force' is already utilized at Dutch borders for individuals who do not comply with border police instructions, emphasizing that 'maximum force' may be necessary.
These comments have sparked widespread criticism from across the Dutch political spectrum. Frans Timmermans, leader of the GroenLinks-PvdA alliance, condemned the remarks as 'deeply abhorrent language' and labeled them 'an absolute low point.' Rob Jetten, leader of the D66 party, also criticized the statements, describing them as 'dangerous.' VVD parliamentary leader Sophie Hermans highlighted the 'great responsibility' politicians bear and denounced such statements as inappropriate.
The Rights Forum, established by former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt, is an advocate for Palestinian rights and has previously criticized Dutch political support for Israel during the conflict in Gaza.