Amsterdam, January 22, 2008 (WAFA) - Member of the Dutch Parliament and spokesman on foreign affairs Harry van Bommel urged Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen to make clear to the Israeli ambassador the Dutch government's displeasure at the cutting off of fuel supplies to Gaza.

"The collective punishment of the entire population of Gaza is unacceptable. I am asking the minister to let the Israeli ambassador know immediately that the government condemns these actions,” said Bommel.

“It is with good reason that UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon is warning of a humanitarian crisis," Van Bommel said.

He added that the population of Gaza is being reduced to absolute poverty, most of them dependent on emergency aid from the UN.

"Now that essential services are also being closed down, the suffering of the people is increasing and that in turn will increase the pressures which lead to political radicalisation."

He stressed that "this is a totally undesirable chain of developments, one which is to no-one's advantage. Verhagen must, therefore, make it clear where the Netherlands stands by condemning Israel's actions.”