World

Dutch Grief Over MH17 Crash Turns To Anger

With separatist rebels in Ukraine keeping control of the MH17 crash site, international anger is growing, especially in the Netherlands.

Dutch Grief Over MH17 Crash Turns To Anger
Getty Images

The prevailing mood in the Netherlands since the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 seems to be a mix of grief and anger. (Via Getty Images)

According to officials, 193 of the 298 people who died when MH17 was shot down were Dutch, and the anger there can be seen in the local press, as CBC points out. (Via CBS)

"Moordenaars means murderers. ... There was grief, there was shock, and I think now there's a lot of anger." (Via CBC)  

And it's a sentiment echoed by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who so far has been one of the most outspoken critics of the separatist rebels holding the crash site. (Via Getty Images)

"I am shocked by the images of totally disrespectful behavior at this tragic site. ... This is downright disgusting." (Via CNN)

The front page of popular newspaper NRC Next asked, "When are they coming home?" while De Telegraaf called for boycotting the 2018 Russia World Cup and military intervention from NATO. 

For a country that tried to remain neutral through two world wars, calls for military action are something of a rarity and weren't echoed by the country's political leadership. 

As the Financial Times reports, Rutte has threatened Russia with "all political, economic and financial options" ​if it does not help in opening access to the crash site. 

​Dutch officials were able to inspect some of the bodies Monday, despite renewed fighting in the nearby rebel-held city of Donetsk. (Via BBC)

The Guardian reports Ukrainian officials were hoping to move the bodies to the relatively secure city of Kharkiv but fear the trains might be blocked in Donetsk, which is on the way. 

Also on Monday, President Obama renewed calls for the investigation to continue without interference from rebels and reportedly accused them of removing evidence from the crash site.