Activist Wife’s Criticism Fuels Debate Over On-Air Commentary on Gaza Conflict
Amsterdam - Minouche van der Gijp, wife of television personality René van der Gijp, has publicly condemned commentator Wierd Duk‘s stance on the conflict in Gaza, accusing him of minimizing the severity of the situation and expressing extreme views. Her criticism, shared via Instagram Stories and reported by NOS, has sparked discussion about platforming controversial opinions and the balance between personal freedoms and accountability in media coverage of the ongoing crisis.
Van der Gijp highlighted a UN commitee’s recent assessment,stating Israel is “guilty of genocide” in the Gaza Strip,as reported by NOS. She directly criticized Duk and fellow commentator Bram Moszkowicz, alleging they deny the gravity of the situation despite knowing the truth. ”Of course not all where,according to the brams and the wierdjes… While of course they know deep in their hearts that this is the case.But actually they are to cowardly to say on TV that they just don’t care. Just keep denying. Inhumane crazy people are,” she wrote.
Van der Gijp called for a cessation of providing a platform for Duk and Moszkowicz to express what she described as “extreme right-wing views,” suggesting her views may have influenced her husband’s willingness to appear alongside Duk on the VI program. ”Let’s no longer give these people a platform where they can ventilate their extreme right-wing views.Let us all continue to fight for human value in which you can be a little left or right in this country where you have freedom of expression, but never to the point where you approve children are slaughtered.”
She further stated her strong disapproval of duk’s commentary,saying,”People who continue to cram nonsense on TV that no genocide is being committed,I pull vrey badly.” Van der Gijp clarified she is not antisemitic, stating, “I am not an anti-Semite. I don’t hate the Jewish community. Far from. But Zionists, the Israeli government and the IDF are all allowed to burn in hell.”
Van der Gijp acknowledged influencing her husband with her “left-wing ideas,” but emphasized René van der Gijp is capable of forming his own opinions. “As if my husband has no opinion. Well, then you don’t know my husband. He can stand up for himself and ventilate his opinion.” She noted their conversations regarding Gaza are “more nuanced” due to her more active role as an activist.
Despite the serious nature of her statements, Van der Gijp also addressed criticism regarding her social media posts, acknowledging the contrast between sharing vacation photos from Ibiza and highlighting the atrocities in Gaza. “Fcking that there is no balance in it. But that is my life. I am in a privileged position where I can travel, but that does not mean that I close my eyes to what happens to the Palestinian population. *Free Palestine.”