Egypt urges Dutch action after embassy assault

CAIRO – 19 August 2025:  Badr Abdel Ati, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, received a phone call from his Dutch counterpart, Casper Veldkamp, as part of their regular consultations on strengthening bilateral relations and exchanging views on the latest developments in the Gaza Strip.

Minister Abdel Ati stressed the importance of providing security protection for the Egyptian diplomatic mission in the Netherlands, highlighting the Dutch side's responsibility under international law to protect it from any violations. He expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the attack on the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague and underscored the Netherlands' responsibility to ensure it doesn't happen again.

For his part, the Dutch minister expressed his deep regret over the "individual incident" that occurred in front of the Egyptian Embassy. He confirmed that he had spoken with the relevant security authorities, who intend to increase security measures at the embassy, in line with the host country's responsibilities under relevant international agreements. He emphasized the close relations between his country and Egypt, which are based on mutual respect and shared interests, and expressed a commitment to advancing bilateral ties in various fields, particularly economic, trade, and investment, for the benefit of both peoples.

The two ministers also exchanged views on developments in the Middle East, with a focus on the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip. Minister Abdel Ati reiterated to his Dutch counterpart Egypt's intensive efforts to reach a truce that ensures a ceasefire, unrestricted aid entry, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. He noted that Hamas had agreed to the majority of the terms in a proposal by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and underscored the importance of the Israeli side's approval.

He highlighted his recent visit to the Rafah crossing with the Palestinian Prime Minister, noting that it operates around the clock on the Egyptian side. He called on the Dutch minister to use the Netherlands' influence within the European Union to pressure Israel to open its own crossings and put an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. He also reviewed the ongoing preparations for Egypt to host an international conference for the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza once a ceasefire agreement is reached.

In response, the Dutch minister praised Egypt's positive role in working to reach a deal to secure a ceasefire, facilitate aid access, and support the Palestinian people during their current ordeal.