THE HAGUE, Netherlands – In a vibrant display of dissent, tens of thousands of demonstrators in the Netherlands adorned themselves in red attire on a Sunday, advancing in solidarity against the Dutch government’s stance on Israel. This march attracted significantly more participants compared to a similar gathering held in May.
Participants embarked on a symbolic journey, covering a 3-mile circuit around the heart of The Hague. This journey was aimed at metaphorically establishing a red line, a boundary that protestors argue the current administration has neglected to enforce in curbing Israel’s maneuvers in Gaza.
Expressing his perspective, protester Marin Koning remarked, “I refuse to be an accomplice in these appalling crimes transpiring there, and I choose to voice my concerns.”
Human rights groups and organizations dedicated to humanitarian aid, such as Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Doctors Without Borders, were at the forefront of organizing this demonstration. They estimated that over 150,000 individuals participated in the peaceful protest. Meanwhile, local media outlets reported figures hovering around 100,000.
In Belgium, just across the border, police reports indicated that approximately 75,000 individuals, also dressed predominantly in red, gathered for a march in Belgium’s capital, Brussels. Several demonstrations have been orchestrated to highlight the activities of Israel in Gaza, yet Sunday’s event marked the largest assembly to date.
The protest in the Netherlands entered the public consciousness as a “clear message,” according to Marjon Rozema from Amnesty International Netherlands. She emphasized the urgency for Dutch officials to “take decisive action both nationally and internationally to escalate pressure on the Israeli government.”
Mirroring a similar event in May, the march traversed past the Peace Palace, the home of the United Nations’ International Court of Justice. Last year, judges at the court mandated Israel to exert maximum effort to avert loss of life, destruction, and any genocidal activities in Gaza.
Israel maintains a strong stance in denying accusations of breaching international law in Gaza.
This event unfolded shortly after the Netherlands’ ruling four-party coalition disintegrated, leaving the nation with an interim government as it prepared to host a NATO leaders summit by the end of June.
The conflict ignited by Hamas on October 7, 2023, witnessed an attack on southern Israel, resulting in the death of approximately 1,200 individuals—predominantly civilians—and the abduction of 251 others. Presently, militants still hold 53 hostages, with less than half believed to be alive, following releases secured through ceasefire terms and other agreements.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s military actions have resulted in the death of over 55,300 Palestinians, mostly composed of women and children, though it does not clearly differentiate between civilians and combatants. Conversely, Israel claims to have neutralized more than 20,000 militants, albeit without providing substantiating evidence.
In a related diplomatic move, the European Union called for an urgent gathering of its 27 member states’ foreign ministers to deliberate on the tensions between Israel and Iran.
This meeting, scheduled to occur via video link, aims to facilitate discussions, coordinate diplomatic initiatives toward Tel Aviv and Tehran, and evaluate potential future measures. This was relayed by the office of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
The statement assured, “Our efforts to advance diplomatic initiatives to defuse tensions and devise a lasting resolution to the Iranian nuclear matter, achievable solely through negotiated agreements, remain steadfast.”