Netherlands don change mind about helping Palestinians wey get visa to come here. According to NOS, government don now actively assist 47 Palestinians wey get work or study visa for Netherlands to leave Gaza.
Three of them, two students and one journalist, don already get green light from Israel and don leave Gaza by bus. But the journalist go Italy instead, only the two students dey come Netherlands.
Before, Netherlands talk say im only need to ask approval from Israeli service Cogat, wey dey control civilian affairs for occupied territories and Gaza. For the second part, to organize and coordinate travel to Jordan, Netherlands no feel responsible.
Now things don change. Netherlands don help the two wey don leave, and from communication wey NOS see, e go do same for the rest of the group. The reason for this political shift no clear.
Last weeks, plenty attention dey on this group. Public pressure come from universities wey supposed to receive these students. Political pressure dey both to help and not to help.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirm say dem don give diplomatic help wey necessary to leave Gaza quickly, and go do same for others soon. But dem stress say this no be full evacuation like before for people wey dey stuck for Gaza.
The two students travel with a bigger group wey dey go Italy and Spain. Without Netherlands help, this journey no possible, even after Israel give green light. The route go through occupied Gaza, Israel, then Jordan. For every border crossing, Dutch diplomat need to dey present.
These students don file case for court for The Hague to force Netherlands to help. Dem lose the case, but for appeal, judge make interim ruling say Netherlands must follow diplomatic channel with Israel. The judge also say the students no ask for help with travel to Netherlands or Jordan or actual evacuation from Gaza.
Ministry say dem dey follow that ruling. But internal email wey NOS get show dem first interpret the ruling differently, say dem no need to do more than give names to Israel. Even minister Tom Berendsen earlier say no more consular assistance after submitting list to Cogat.
Now Netherlands dey give consular help, dem need to coordinate with UNICEF or Red Cross wey normally handle transport from Gaza to Israel border. The people wey dey come to Netherlands today travel with Italian-Spanish convoy. From Israel border, dem go to Jordan border, then to Queen Alia airport near Amman, and fly to Netherlands.
NRC report say first Gazans with visa dey on their way to Netherlands. Ministry confirm to ANP. The two students get admission for Dutch master program and have right to temporary residence permit. Dem request consular assistance late last year but ministry refuse, say e no be their responsibility to organize trip from Gaza to Jordan.
After legal procedures, Council of State on March 19 rule say minister must make effort to ensure students can pick up their documents. On April 30, preliminary judge say minister must also give consular assistance to 46 other Palestinians with Dutch mvv. But how minister do am na im own.
To evacuate visa holders, Netherlands must submit names to COGAT. By May 11, Netherlands no don do am even after court ruling. NOS see communication wey show ministry now ready to help others. But ministry say e no be full evacuation like before for Dutch citizens.
Timeline for the over 40 Palestinians to come to Netherlands no clear. Dem get visa from Dutch universities and hospitals to work, study or do research. Since October, official ceasefire dey for Gaza, but Israel still dey commit genocidal violence, kill 922 Palestinians since ceasefire start. Humanitarian organizations dey blocked. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announce plan to occupy 70 percent of Gaza.
