Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot has said that she hoped for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire, resulting in a sustained cessation of hostilities”.

In a post on X, Slot said that she discussed the horrific conditions in Gaza and the situation in the region in her meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

“I repeated my urgent call against a large-scale military offensive in Rafah and expressed my concerns about the increasing tensions on the West Bank,” she said.

She said the cessation of fire is crucial for the hostages and for significantly increasing the amount of humanitarian aid.

“Large quantities of essential goods need to enter Gaza,” she said, adding that she urged for immediate improvement of humanitarian access, including by land, and announced that the Netherlands stands ready to provide scanners, to accelerate the passage of humanitarian goods at the border.

“I also underlined that deescalation is essential, especially in light of the upcoming Ramadan. People of faith should be able to celebrate their holy month without constraints,” she said.