Hundreds of thousands protest against Israel in the Netherlands

BanglaPress Desk: Hundreds of thousands of people staged a massive protest in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, to condemn Israel’s military campaign and genocide in Gaza. The demonstrators took to the streets demanding a reduction in commercial ties with Israel and an immediate halt to all arms sales to the country.

On Sunday (local time), large crowds of protesters gathered across various streets in Amsterdam. Many participants wore red clothing. According to Amnesty International (Netherlands branch)—one of the organizers of the initiative, known as the "Red Line" campaign—more than 200,000 people took part in the protest.

Mike van Dongen, a participant in the demonstration, stated that what is unfolding in Gaza is in no way humane. He criticized the Dutch government for failing to take effective action to address the situation, suggesting that the government lacks the courage to implement stringent measures against Israel.

During the protest, a man standing at a bus stop along one of Amsterdam’s streets led chants in support of Palestinian independence. As he shouted, "Free, free Palestine," many others in the procession joined in.

Since October 2023, at least 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, including 21,000 children.

Despite ongoing international criticism regarding the massive loss of life in this protracted conflict, there has been no meaningful change in the situation.

Protests against Israel are not new to the Netherlands. A "Red Line" campaign was previously organized in Amsterdam in early October last year. Similarly, thousands of people also took to the streets in The Hague last June, voicing the same demands. 

Source: Al Jazeera.

BP/SP