Dutch-Israeli MP calls for ‘maximum violence’ against Palestinians seeking asylum in Netherlands — Saturday 16 May 2026In a controversial statement that has drawn sharp criticism from across the Middle East, Dutch-Israeli Member of Parliament Gidi Markuszower called for the use of maximum violence to block Palestinians seeking asylum in the Netherlands. The lawmaker argued that authorities should stop such applicants with force that could exceed the dangers they fled, framing the issue as a security priority rather than a humanitarian one. His remarks arrive as growing numbers of Palestinians apply for protection in Europe amid the prolonged conflict in Gaza and the West Bank. Markuszower, who holds dual Dutch and Israeli citizenship, has built a political profile around strict immigration controls and close alignment with Israeli security policies. Observers note his comments reflect wider trends in parts of Europe where asylum debates have become entangled with domestic politics and attitudes toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For audiences in Lebanon and neighboring states, the language echoes familiar patterns of hostility toward Palestinian refugees that have persisted since the region’s successive displacements. The statement risks reinforcing restrictive asylum measures at a moment when EU countries are already tightening rules on arrivals from conflict zones. In Beirut and other capitals, analysts see such rhetoric as further evidence that European debates often overlook the root causes of Palestinian flight while amplifying security concerns that can marginalize refugee communities already facing discrimination.Watch the full video from Middle East Eye below.