THE HAGue, NETHERLANDS (AP) — A vast crowd dressed predominantly in red filled the streets of the Dutch capital on Sunday as they rallied to urge their government to take stronger action against Israel’s operations in Gaza. Organizers stated this was one of the largest demonstrations held in the Netherlands over the past twenty years.
Human rights organizations and aid agencies such as Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Médecins Sans Frontières—estimated that over 100,000 individuals gathered peacefully. The streets of The Hague teemed with attendees ranging from seniors to children, including infants experiencing their very first demonstration.
We hope this serves as a wakeup call for the government,” stated teacher Roos Lingbeek, participating in the march alongside her spouse and their three-month-old child, Dido. The infant was carried in a sling while her parents held up a placard that read only “STOP.
The march took the young family past the Peace Palace, headquarters of the United Nations’ International Court of Justice,
Where last year, the judges instructed Israel to take every possible measure to avoid deaths, devastation, and any instances of genocide in Gaza.
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As the demonstration made its way near the courthouse, alongside the canals, and close to the location of the Netherlands’ conservative administration, Israeli troops kept up their assault on northern Gaza.
where they have initiated new land-based missions
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Airstrikes in the offensive killed at least 103 people, including dozens of children, overnight and into Sunday, hospitals and medics said, and forced northern Gaza’s main hospital to close.
An Israeli blockade on food, medicine and other supplies is now in its third month, with global food security experts warning of famine across the territory of more than 2 million people.
David Prins, whose yarmulke was printed with the image of a watermelon — which shares the colors of the Palestinian flag — told The Associated Press he was attending the protest “to speak out against the atrocities.” The 64-year-old was standing across the street from the synagogue he attended growing up, which overlooks the field where the demonstration began.
Demonstrators strolled along a 3-mile (5-kilometer) circular route through downtown The Hague, aiming to metaphorically draw the red line they believe the administration has neglected to establish.
“We urge the government to halt all forms of support—political, economic, and military—to Israel,” stated Marjon Rozema from Amnesty International, as the nation persists in obstructing humanitarian assistance to Gaza, according to her conversation with the AP.
Those who couldn’t navigate the journey through the city perched alongside the path to root for the participants. “The government needs to take action now,” Aletha Steijns said to AP while using crutches due to a knee injury. She had company as she rested in her camping chair on the pavement, accompanied by several of her friends.
The Dutch stance towards Israel is merely one of numerous factors contributing to fractures within the Netherlands’ delicate coalition administration. Geert Wilders, who leads the far-right party known as the Party for Freedom and has the highest number of parliamentary seats, strongly supports Israel.
The previous week, Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp from the minority centrist VVD party called for the European Union to reassess its trade deal with Israel. He argued that Israel’s restriction of humanitarian assistance breaches international law. In response, Wilders criticized this demand as being at odds with the government’s stance, labeling it an “insult to cabinet policy.”
Molly Quell, The Associated Press
