Ursula von der Leyen Faces Protests in Netherlands, Called 'War Criminal' Over Gaza Deaths

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, faced criticism and protests during a debate in Maastricht, Netherlands, where a pro-Palestine activist accused her of being a "war criminal" due to the high civilian casualties in Gaza. The protester claimed that 15,000 children have died as a result of von der Leyen's unconditional support for Israel.

Von der Leyen has expressed opposition to a planned Israeli military operation in Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip with a population of 1.4 million displaced Palestinians. She called such an attack "completely unacceptable" and said the EU would "act on that" if an invasion of Rafah took place. However, she has also defended Israel's "right to defend itself."

Israel has been accused of genocide in Gaza, where over 34,500 Palestinians have been killed and 77,600 injured since October 2023 amid mass destruction and a crippling blockade. The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to stop genocidal acts and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.

Why this matters: The ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel's actions have drawn international condemnation and raised concerns about human rights violations. As a prominent European leader, von der Leyen's stance on the issue carries significant weight and has the potential to influence EU policy towards the region.

During the debate, von der Leyen also faced criticism from other candidates, including Anders Visitsen of the right-wing populist party Identity and Democracy, who called for firing "ten thousand bureaucrats" in Brussels, and Dutch politician Bas Eickhout of the European Green Party, who accused her of weakening the Green Deal and conceding to protesting farmers. Despite the criticism, von der Leyen defended her record and the EU's stance on the Israel-Gaza war. "The EU will take action if Israel continues to threaten Rafah, the only city in Gaza still standing," she stated.

Key Takeaways

• Ursula von der Leyen criticized for Israel's actions in Gaza during debate
• Protester accused von der Leyen of being a "war criminal" over Gaza casualties
• Von der Leyen opposes planned Israeli military operation in Rafah, Gaza
• Israel accused of genocide in Gaza, over 34,500 Palestinians killed since Oct 2023
• Von der Leyen also faced criticism from other candidates on EU policies