Dutch-Israeli MP calls for ‘maximum violence’ against Palestinians seeking asylum in Netherlands — Saturday 16 May 2026A Dutch-Israeli member of parliament has drawn widespread condemnation after calling for the use of maximum violence, or even greater force than what asylum seekers have fled, to block Palestinians from entering the Netherlands. Gidi Markuszower made the remarks in a parliamentary debate, framing the proposal as necessary to protect Dutch borders amid ongoing regional conflicts. Markuszower, who holds dual Dutch and Israeli citizenship and sits with the right-wing Party for Freedom, has a record of hardline positions on immigration and security. His comments arrive as the Netherlands and other European countries face renewed pressure from asylum applications linked to the Gaza conflict and broader Middle East instability. Observers note that such language echoes earlier populist campaigns that have influenced Dutch policy shifts toward stricter border controls. Human rights groups across Europe and beyond have rejected the proposal as incompatible with international refugee conventions, warning that it risks normalizing excessive force against vulnerable civilians. The episode underscores growing tensions in Western democracies between domestic security concerns and obligations under global asylum frameworks, with similar debates surfacing in several EU states.Watch the full video from Middle East Eye below.