THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – On Sunday, tens of thousands of demonstrators in the Netherlands dressed in red marched to protest the Dutch government's policy toward Israel, indicating a significant increase in turnout from a similar event held in May. Estimates from human rights groups and aid agencies, including Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Doctors Without Borders, claim that the peaceful crowd exceeded 150,000 participants, although local media estimates suggested the number was closer to 100,000.
The demonstrators marched a 3-mile (5-kilometer) loop around The Hague's city center, symbolically creating the "red line" they believe the government has failed to establish to halt Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Marin Koning, a protester, expressed their sentiment, stating, "I don’t want to be complicit in these horrendous crimes happening there and I want to speak out."
Marjon Rozema from Amnesty International Netherlands emphasized that the protest sent a "clear signal" to Dutch officials, urging them to take action at both national and international levels to increase pressure on the Israeli government. As was the case during the first Red Line protest in May, the march route passed by the Peace Palace, the headquarters of the United Nations' International Court of Justice. The court had previously ordered Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent death, destruction, and acts of genocide in Gaza.
Following Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages, the ongoing conflict has escalated drastically. As of the latest reports, Hamas is still holding 53 hostages, with fewer than half alive after various ceasefire agreements released most of the others.
Israel's military operations in Gaza have reportedly led to over 55,300 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which claims that women and children comprise the majority of the fatalities, though it does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. In contrast, Israel asserts that it has killed more than 20,000 militants but has not provided evidence to support this claim.
This protest comes in the context of recent political instability in the Netherlands, where the ruling four-party coalition has collapsed, leaving the country with a caretaker government. This development is particularly notable as the Netherlands prepares to host a summit of NATO leaders at the end of June.
In summary, the demonstration against the Dutch government's stance on Israel highlights growing public dissent regarding international actions and policies related to the ongoing conflict, as demonstrators call for immediate action to address humanitarian concerns in Gaza.
