4 months Ago
The protest aimed to raise awareness of the growing famine and hardship in the Palestinian territory, with many participants waving Palestinian flags.
In Amsterdam, around 1,500 people demonstrated at Central Station, while nearly 1,000 gathered in Rotterdam. Hundreds more joined protests in The Hague, Utrecht, and Leiden.
Smaller demonstrations were also held in cities like Groningen, Enschede, Eindhoven, Amersfoort, Assen, and Den Bosch. In Amsterdam and Eindhoven, the sit-ins later turned into marches through the city centers.
Organizers Demand Political Action
The Palestinian Community in the Netherlands (PGNL) foundation organized the protest events.
They handed out flyers encouraging people to call for sanctions and an arms embargo against Israel, boycott Israeli goods, and join future demonstrations.
They also urged people to contact Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp to demand stronger political action.
The Amsterdam municipality added its voice, with Mayor Femke Halsema writing to the national government on behalf of the city council and residents.
She called on Dutch leaders to take a clear stance on the issue and to condemn Israel's actions. Her message stressed the need for justice and respect for human rights, noting the growing public frustration over Europe's lack of response.
Halsema described the worsening situation in Gaza, where doctors are collapsing, journalists are starving, and mothers are unable to feed their children.
She criticized the silence of European leaders while hunger is used as a weapon and violence is used against those seeking aid.
Growing Global Concern Over Aid Blockade
Earlier this week, more than 100 humanitarian organizations called on international governments to act. They reported that many aid workers in Gaza are starving, unable to deliver essential supplies due to access restrictions.
Even though food, clean water, fuel, and medical supplies are available nearby, humanitarian agencies are blocked from distributing them.
According to recent figures, Israel has allowed very limited aid into Gaza over the past few weeks. Soldiers have reportedly attacked Palestinians near food distribution points. As of July 13, the United Nations confirmed that Israeli forces have killed 875 Palestinians who were trying to access aid, including 201 people on designated aid routes. Thousands more have been injured during these incidents.
By July 22, over 59,100 people had been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the conflict, including at least 17,400 children. More than 142,000 people have been injured, according to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The violence began after a Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,139 people.
The protests across the Netherlands show growing concern among citizens about the worsening crisis in Gaza and rising calls for stronger international action.
