200,000 Protesters in Amsterdam Demand End to Gaza Genocide

Amsterdam – Agencies: Tens of thousands demonstrated in Amsterdam to protest the ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza, holding signs that read “Stop the Genocide.” Organizers of the protest, held under the banner “The Red Line,” estimated participation at around 200,000. Protesters, dressed in red, called on the Dutch government to take action against Israel. Steven Aisenzinger, wearing a red scarf, told Agence France-Presse during the demonstration, “Stop supplying Israel with weapons.” The 30-year-old American resident of Amsterdam added, “I am Jewish, and some members of my family currently live in Israel, but I wanted to express my support for Palestine and my opposition to genocide.” The Netherlands has not followed other European countries, such as France and Belgium, in recognizing Palestine as an independent state. Prime Minister Rob Jetten said during his weekly press conference on Friday that his participation in such demonstrations was “no longer appropriate,” noting that he had taken part in similar events when he was a candidate in the 2025 legislative elections. This stance prompted Jan Willem de Lio, a participant in Sunday’s protest, to describe him as “cowardly.” However, the Dutch government has imposed an import ban on products from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, which are illegal under international law, since September last year. Following the implementation of this decision, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the revocation of accreditation for Dutch diplomats working in the West Bank.