Dutch take to the streets to support Palestinians
Tens of thousands of people dressed in red thronged the streets of Amsterdam on Sunday to denounce ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza, carrying signs reading "Stop the Genocide". Organisers said some 20,000 people attended the "red line" protest, demanding that the Dutch government take action against Israel. "Stop sending weapons to Israel," one of the protesters, Steven Eisinger, a…
On Sunday, thousands of red-clad demonstrators filled the streets of Amsterdam to protest against violence targeting Palestinians in Gaza. They carried signs proclaiming "Stop the Genocide" and called for the Dutch government to act against Israel. One attendee, Steven Eisinger, a Jewish American robotics engineer, expressed his opposition to weapon shipments to Israel, citing his personal connection to the cause.
The protest called for an end to the ongoing conflict, which began in October 2023 following Hamas' attack on Israel. Despite a fragile ceasefire since October 2023, Gaza continues to face a humanitarian crisis, coupled with regular Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, settler violence in the West Bank has also surged. Unlike countries like France and Belgium, the Netherlands has not officially recognized Palestine.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten, who once participated in a similar protest while campaigning in 2025, deemed it inappropriate to join the Amsterdam demonstration. Following the event, the Dutch government imposed a ban on goods originating from Israeli settlements, deemed illegal under international law. Israel retaliated by expelling Dutch diplomats.
The Netherlands has also withdrawn from the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, citing the sensitive issue of Israel's participation.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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