Netherlands to begin Treating Sick Children from Gaza Amidst Concerns Aid comes Too Late
UTRECHT, Netherlands – The Dutch government has reversed its previous position and will begin accepting sick children from Gaza for medical treatment, a decision welcomed with cautious optimism by medical professionals who fear the delay may already be fatal for many. While the move addresses growing pressure from opposition parties and the VVD’s own base, doctors emphasize that the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza demands a far more comprehensive response than treating a limited number of pediatric patients.
The decision comes as Gaza’s healthcare system teeters on the brink of collapse, overwhelmed by casualties and severely lacking essential resources. For children battling life-threatening illnesses like cancer, even short delays in treatment can have devastating consequences. “I am simultaneously pleased by this shift in policy and deeply saddened,immediately thinking of the girl who won’t be able to experience this help,” stated a physician familiar with the situation,highlighting the urgency of the need. The limited scope of the initiative – bringing only a small number of children to the Netherlands – is unlikely to significantly alleviate the broader healthcare crisis in the region.
The Princess Máxima center for pediatric oncology in Utrecht has been prepared to receive patients for some time, possessing the capacity to provide critical care. “We have the ability to offer the urgent care needed by several children with cancer from Gaza, because delays in cancer treatment carry ample risks,” a representative from the center explained.
Political commentator Joost Vullings attributes the government’s reversal primarily to mounting pressure on the VVD from both the opposition and its own supporters, who advocated for the children’s admission. “Faced with this confluence of pressure, they likely concluded that maintaining their opposition was untenable.”
Despite previous parliamentary votes against treating children from Gaza, Vullings believes those decisions are now largely superseded by the cabinet’s commitment. “The cabinet has made its decision. It will happen now; the question is timing. But the first step has been taken.”
